Indictments handed down in theft, false tax rings

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A Mahoning County grand jury Thursday indicted 10 people in a theft ring and four people in an income-tax fraud case.

Assistant Prosecutor Dawn Cantalamessa, who presented both indictments, said members of the theft ring were stealing cars in Mahoning and Columbiana counties, then getting false license plates for them and either selling them or using them for other purposes.

Prosecutors said the suspected ring leader, LaShawn D. Roby, 28, of Garfield Heights, is in the Mahoning County jail.

The other members of the suspected ring are from Cuyahoga County. Cantalamessa said they did the planning for most of their crimes in that county, but the case was indicted in Mahoning because several of the offenses were committed here.

The others who were indicted are Denzelle J. Roby, 20, of North Randall, and Kenneth R. Davis, 50; Andrew Johnson, 49; Antwoine Thomas, 35; Melvin D. Linder, 29; Erika D. Giles, 28; Carlton Gilmore, 42; and Andrea K. Brueggeman, 29, all of Cleveland.

Charges include engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, grand theft of a motor vehicle, attempted grand theft, forgery, tampering with records, tampering with evidence, possession of criminal tools, receiving stolen property and theft.

The ring operated between December and May, according to the indictment.

In the other indictment, Cantalamessa said four people are accused of filing up to 109 false tax returns with the state.

She said the four were using identities and W2 forms of others and filing them to claim benefits they were not entitled to between January 2011 and April 2014.

Those indicted in that case are Marcus R.S. Pearson, 27, of Thompson Road, Mercer, Pa.; Tomasina T. May, 36, of West Dennick Avenue; Terrance D. May, 39, of East Chalmers Avenue; and Regina Swain, 44, of North Raccoon Road.

Charges are theft, identity fraud, tampering with records, telecommunications fraud and filing a false tax return.

All those indicted are expected to be arraigned in common pleas court Aug. 17 before Judge Maureen Sweeney.