Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg announced that seven suspects have been arrested in connection with several high-value copper wire thefts that have caused damage to critical infrastructure sites across the city.
According to a statement from Mayor Greenberg’s office, these charges come as a result of a coordinated investigation by the Mayor’s Critical Infrastructure Task Force, and was led by Louisville Metro Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC).
The investigation started with a tip from a local scrap yard that reported individuals selling suspicious burnt wire that was consistent with communications infrastructure used by service providers such as AT&T. This wire was later confirmed to be part of Louisville’s essential communications network.
Mayor Greenberg said “Our message to these copper wire thieves is clear: Whether you’re cutting it, stealing it, burning it, or selling it, we will catch you and we will prosecute you.”
Detectives were able to recover stolen materials, as well as arrest and charge several suspects. The case has also been successfully connected to previous unsolved crimes involving communications and transportation systems.
In total, seven suspects have been charged in connection with the case:
Brian Burgett (54)
Chad Hester (51)
Eric Jenkins (37)
Anthony Napier (52)
Jonathan St. Clair (33)
Curtis Terry (46)
Julio Torres (33)
Investigators believe that Burgett, Hester and Napier had previously worked together in an unsolved case from 2023 involving stolen wire from a TRIMARC traffic sign.
The three suspects are each facing charges of criminal syndication, in addition to other felony charges as a result of their coordinated actions across multiple thefts.
The other four defendants are also facing felony level charges.
Investigators say they believe this operation is likely linked with even more crimes involving traffic system damage.
Source: WAVE
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