ALTOONA – Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett and Blair County District Attorney Richard Consiglio Tuesday announced that agents from the Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, along with state police and local law enforcement, have captured four principle figures in two large-scale conspiracies which sold thousands of dollars worth of merchandise stolen from stores throughout Central Pennsylvania.
Corbett identified the defendants as Michael Daniel Friedenberger, 37, and Lynette Michelle Friedenberger, 33, Brian Patrick Wyland, 33, and Pamela Marie Cross, 50, all of Altoona.
Corbett said the 22-month long investigation, known as “Operation eBay,” focused on the use of online auctions and Altoona area pawn shops to resell sporting goods, appliances, electronics and other items which were stolen from the shelves of local retail stores. The ring also sold industrial equipment, including compressors, paint sprayers and other heavy-duty equipment stolen from businesses and construction sites throughout the region.
Evidence and testimony about the theft and sale of stolen items was presented before a statewide investigating grand jury, which recommended the criminal charges being filed.
Corbett said the joint investigation involved agents from the Attorney General’s Office, state police, the Altoona Police Department and the Blair County Drug Task Force. The probe was a response to a surge of retail thefts and industrial burglaries in the Altoona area during late 2003 and early 2004.
The grand jury found that Friedenberger and Wyland were both involved in similar but separate schemes to coordinate the theft and resale of stolen items. Many of the items were sold using eBay online auctions. In addition, Friedenberger allegedly sold items at an Altoona pawn shop that he operated — Best Buy’s, located on 12th Street.
Corbett said the grand jury found that the thefts were primarily carried out by heroin addicts, who were paid cash by Friedenberger and Wyland — at times, earning $800 to $2,000 per day by stealing merchandise. In some situations, Friedenberger and Wyland allegedly directed addicts to steal certain items which were in high demand in online auctions.
According to the grand jury, much of the stolen property that the addicts “sold” to Friedenberger and Wyland was still sealed in its original packaging, often still displaying price stickers and other labeling from the stores from which they had been taken.
Corbett said the grand jury found that addicts would often operate in teams, using two-way radios and cell phones to coordinate with other addicts waiting outside the stores in “get-away” cars. At times, the addicts would remove security tags from high-priced items to avoid alerting store security, while in other situations they would simply grab items and attempt to run out of the store before security personnel could react.
The grand jury found that addicts targeted a variety of retail businesses, including Wal-Mart, Lowes, Kaufmann’s, Dunham’s Sporting Goods, Radio Shack and Sears. When security efforts increased at Altoona area stores the addicts allegedly traveled to stores in Johnstown, Greensburg, Pittsburgh, Williamsport and other communities, where they would not be recognized.
Corbett said the theft ring had a significant impact on Altoona area stores. During a two-month period, from April to June 2004, $14,000 worth of baseball bats were stolen from the Dunham’s Sporting Good store in Altoona. Overall theft loss for that store was as much as $139,000 per year, causing company officials to consider closing the Altoona store.
“This shoplifting and sales ring is about exploitation and money, pure and simple,” Corbett said. “The defendants took advantage of the desperation of local drug addicts, along with the anonymous nature of internet auctions — filling their bank accounts while addicts got sicker and stores were pushed to the brink of closing.”
The grand jury found that Friedenberger was assisted by his wife, Lynette, as well as his mother-in-law, Pamela Cross, particularly with bank accounts used to handle the auction proceeds.
Corbett explained that individuals who unwittingly purchased stolen items from Friedenberger via eBay auctions would often pay for the items using checks or PayPal — an online system operated by eBay. Payments were allegedly channeled through a series of bank accounts opened at the Investment Savings Bank in Altoona and controlled by Michael and Lynette Friedenberger or Cross.
According to the grand jury, PayPal payments totaling $220,000 were directed to bank accounts opened by or controlled by the Friedenbergers and Pamela Cross.
““This case clearly demonstrates that illegal drugs fuel other crimes, as addicts steal and engage in other criminal activity to feed their habits,” Corbett said. “Drugs, and the illegal activity that is linked to drug abuse, continue to be the most serious threats to the quality of life in our communities.”
Corbett thanked the state police, Altoona Police Department and Blair County Drug Task Force for their cooperation and assistance with this investigation.
Criminal charges against Michael and Lynette Friedenberger, Pamela Cross and Brian Wyland were filed today before Altoona Magisterial District Judge Joseph Moran. The case will be prosecuted in Blair County by Senior Deputy Attorney General David C. Gorman of the Attorney General’s Drug Strike Force section.
Below is a list of the defendants and the charges filed against them:
Michael Daniel Friedenberger, 37, 1123 Sixth Ave., Altoona, is charged with four counts of participating in a corrupt organization; five counts of dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activity (money laundering); one count of conspiracy to deal in the proceeds of unlawful activity; five counts of receiving stolen property; one count of conspiracy to receive stolen property; 15 counts of retail theft; one count of conspiracy to commit retail theft; one count of solicitation to commit retail theft; and five counts of criminal use of a communications facility. In addition, he is charged with failure to file or pay Pennsylvania personal income taxes for 2001 through 2005.
Brian Patrick Wyland, 33, 412 South Fourth St., Altoona, is charged with five counts of receiving stolen property; one count of conspiracy to receive stolen property; five counts of dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activity (money laundering); one count of conspiracy to deal in the proceeds of unlawful activity; 15 counts of retail theft; one count of conspiracy to commit retail theft; one count of solicitation to commit retail theft; and five counts of criminal use of a communications facility.
Lynette Michelle Friedenberger, 33, 1123 Sixth Ave., Altoona, is charged with four counts of participating in a corrupt organization; one count of dealing in the proceeds of illegal activity (money laundering); one count of conspiracy to deal in the proceeds of illegal activity and one count of conspiracy to receive stolen property.
Pamela Marie Cross, 50, 143 Maple St., Altoona, is charged with four counts of participating in a corrupt organization; one count of dealing in the proceeds of illegal activity (money laundering) and one count of conspiracy to deal in the proceeds of illegal activity.