Thomas M. Carbone, 28, of North Royalton, and Katie M. Stanton, 23, of Cleveland, have pleaded guilty to malicious destruction of federally-licensed communications lines related to the theft of copper from four local radio towers.
According to Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, the couple admitted to breaking into and seriously damaging radio towers, putting the infrastructure of the region at risk. Dettelbach stated, “We will continue to protect the infrastructure in our region.”
The incident occurred on or about August 17 to 18, 2012, when Carbone and Stanton unlawfully entered the property of Radio One on Ridge Road in North Royalton, Ohio. They willfully and maliciously destroyed and removed copper material from four radio-station towers situated on the property, according to court documents.
The removal of copper depleted the signal strength of the supported radio station, thereby impeding the station’s ability to broadcast emergency messages. This is a serious offense, as it compromises the ability of the station to provide critical information to the public in times of need.
The cost of the damage is substantial, with emergency repairs costing nearly $11,000 and permanent repairs estimated to cost around $125,000. These figures are still being calculated, but it is clear that the actions of Carbone and Stanton have resulted in significant financial losses.
Carbone and Stanton are scheduled to be sentenced on April 30. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Thomas E. Getz and M. Kendra Klump. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the North Royalton Police Department.
The guilty plea is a result of the thorough investigation and prosecution of the case. The fact that Carbone and Stanton have pleaded guilty to the charges against them demonstrates the seriousness of their offenses and the commitment of law enforcement to protecting the community.
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Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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