GALVESTON, Texas Officials with the Galveston County Auto Crimes Task Force said a two-month long investigation into a series of all-terrain vehicles and utility vehicle thefts resulted in the bust of a major theft ring on Tuesday.
Seven people were charged in connection to the ring that had thefts in La Marque, Hitchcock and Santa Fe.
In late May, the task force got tips that seven people were part of the ring that targeted businesses and homes where ATVs were sold or stored. The thieves also took off with weapons and generators from the victims.
During the investigation, the task force recovered eight utility vehicles, five ATVs, a pair of dirt bikes and a generator. In all, the stolen items were valued at about $146,000, Auto Crimes Task Force coordinator Lt. Tommy Hansen said.
Five people were taken into custody Tuesday in connection to the case.
Joel Growcock, 20, of Santa Fe, was charged with engaging in organized criminal activity and three counts of burglary of a building. He already was in the county jail on unrelated charges but had his bond increased by $700,000 with the new charges.
Chad Growcock, 18, of Santa Fe, was arrested while he was in court for an unrelated charge. He was charged with three counts of burglary and was being held on $300,000 bond.
Toni Joann Santos, 21, of Texas City, was charged with engaging in organized criminal activity and three counts of burglary of a building. She was being held on $400,000 bond.
Merrill Seth Wortham, 17, of La Marque, was charged with engaging in organized criminal activity and was in jail on $100,000 bond, while Wendy Roberts Mullenax, 34, of La Marque, also was charged with organized criminal activity and was in the county jail on $100,000 bond.
Warrants on charges of engaging in organized criminal activity also were issued for John Cagle, 17, of The Woodlands, and Matthew McGown, 18, of Tomball.
Neither was in custody Tuesday night, Hansen said.
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