The Times-Journal

Tuesday, February 9, 2010 | DeKalb County's Oldest Newspaper

Classifieds | Jobs | Homes | Autos

Theft case covers North Alabama

By Mark Harrison
The Times-Journal

Published September 29, 2009

Police have arrested a Mulga man and charged him in the theft of about $200,000 worth of heavy equipment from various locations across the state – including one in Fort Payne.

Anthony Jerome Martin, 41, is charged with several counts of theft by deception for allegedly buying the equipment using worthless checks, then attempting to resell it, usually at lesser value.

Martin’s arrest comes on the heels of an investigation launched several months ago by the Fort Payne Police Department, in regard to the theft by deception of a Kubota tractor – valued at $20,000 – from Harrison Implement in Fort Payne.

At a press conference Tuesday morning, Fort Payne Police Commissioner Ron Ogletree said Martin allegedly used a bad check to buy the tractor back in July. He said the tractor has now been recovered and returned.

The theft in Fort Payne represents only a small aspect of a larger theft by deception scheme Martin was allegedly carrying out throughout the state. Ogletree said Fort Payne investigators attempted to locate Martin after the theft at Harrison Implement, but were unsuccessful, so felony warrants were issued.

On Aug. 8, a police officer in Anniston stopped Martin for a minor traffic violation, found there were outstanding warrants and arrested Martin, Ogletree said. He said Fort Payne officers then traveled to Calhoun County to interview Martin, who gave them information about the theft in Fort Payne and others across the state.

Martin was then taken to the DeKalb County Jail, and a wider investigation was launched involving 14 different law enforcement agencies, including the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and Alabama Department of Agriculture Law Enforcement Division.

DeKalb Chief Deputy Michael Edmondson said Martin took local and state investigators to various locations across the state, pointing out equipment either fraudulently bought or stolen outright.

“He couldn’t tell us where it was,” Edmondson said. “But if you put him in the car, he could take us and show us where it was.”

He said most of the stolen property – which included tractors, backhoes, a transfer truck, bulldozers, a motor home, a Nisan Pathfinder, even a pontoon boat – have, for the most part, been returned to the rightful owners. He said the remainder is being in various impound yards throughout the state while authorities seek owners out. He said some stolen property was also recovered in Tennessee.

Martin was returned to Calhoun County, where he remains in jail. Ogletree said Martin faces multiple charges in multiple Alabama counties and elsewhere.

Fort Payne Investigator Mike Grant said Martin told investigators the theft by deception scheme was a means to get money to fuel an addiction to methamphetamine.

“We were proud to get the ball rolling on this investigation,” Ogletree said. “But this could not have been accomplished without the help of others. I’d like to extend a special thanks to Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks and the Alabama Department of Agriculture investigators.”

Other assisting agencies included Addison Police Department, Birmingham Police Department, Bessemer Police Department, Cullman County Sheriff’s Office, Huntsville Police Department, Sumiton Police Department, Trussville Police Department, Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, Walker County Sheriff’s Office, Winston County Sheriff’s Office and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.

Share | Save | Mail | Print

Photo Reprints
Purchase select photographs from local games and events. New from The Times-Journal and The Times-Journal.

Business Card Directory

Your Fort Payne and DeKalb County reference guide, featuring accounting, automotive, banks, insurance, restaurants and much more!

Subscription Services: Circulation | Home Delivery | Back Issues | Vacation Stops | Newspapers In Education

The Fort Payne Times-Journal | Publisher: J.D. Davidson

811 Greenhill Blvd.NW, Fort Payne, Alabama 35967 | Tel: 256-845-2550 | Email