Cousins' Crime Spree Stopped, Deputies Say

Two cousins with a penchant for robbing late-night businesses have had their spree come to an end courtesy of Operation Pizza Dough.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, detectives in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties noted a spike in late-night business burglaries back in March. As the trend involving mostly pizza restaurants continued to grow, detectives also noticed cash-advance businesses also began begin targeted by thieves using the same modus operandi. It didn’t take long for detectives to realize the spike was connected to the same suspects.

A review of the cases detectives thought might be linked put them on the trail of two cousins. After a three-week, 24-hour-a-day surveillance operation was conducted, deputies made their arrests. Cousins Stanford Gulley and Marvin Gulley were brought into custody last weekend. Their arrests were announced Thursday.

The Gulleys, a media release from the sheriff’s office says, have been linked to 35 commercial burglaries. Over the course of nine months, the two stole nearly $80,000 in cash, the release stated. When their hotel room was searched, detectives seized $28,000 in cash, burglary tools and a 2004 Chrysler used in the burglaries, the release said.

Marvin Gulley, 33, has been charged with five counts of burglary of an unoccupied structure, three counts of grand theft, possession of burglary tools and possession of cocaine. He is being held at the Hillsborough County Jail without bond.

Standford Gulley, 29, faces four counts of burglary of an unoccupied structure charges. He was jailed in Pinellas County.

Additional charges are pending.

Photos of Stanford Gulley, Marvin Gulley and items seized from the hotel room courtesy of the Hillsborough and Pinellas County Sheriff’s Offices