Pawn Shop Scheme Nets 5 Indictments: Harford Sheriff

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — Owners and workers from Starlite Coin and Pawn and Associated Pawn Brokers were indicted on multiple charges of theft and theft scheme, the Harford County Sheriff's Office reported on Thursday. The indictments came after a year-and-a-half investigation.

Officials said they began looking into the two pawn shops in the 1800 block of Pulaski Highway after recovering $50,000 worth of unopened, new merchandise that had been sold to local pawn shops in 2015.

Home Depot, Lowe's, Walter G. Coale Inc., Sears, Target, and the Mill of Bel Air were among the businesses victimized, officials reported.

A second case involving two people working as a team led detectives to the same pawn shops, where authorities said they recovered $20,000 worth of nearly new, unopened merchandise in one month.

Noticing the similarities in the cases, detectives began looking at the pawn shops as part of the investigation.

Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler attributed the theft scheme to addiction issues.

"After a thorough review of these cases, I am certain this is one more by-product of the heroin epidemic that has a hold on our community," Gahler said. "Each of the original theft suspects are admitted addicts who stole to support their addiction. We will do whatever it takes to hold those responsible who participate in criminal activity and prey on the vulnerability of those living with addiction."

These people were indicted on charges of theft and theft scheme, according to authorities:

• James Franklin Baker, 44, Edgewood (Associated Pawn Brokers)
• Charlotte Freda Wolf, 63, Bel Air (Associated Pawn Brokers)
• Edward Thomas Wolf, 33, Churchville (Associated Pawn Brokers)
• James Clay Mills, 47, Dundalk (Starlite Coin & Pawn)
• Jeffery Andrew Ledergerber, 53, Bel Air (Starlite Coin & Pawn)

"I am proud of the tenacity of the detectives to follow this case to a successful conclusion that not only holds those who stole the items accountable," Gahler said, "but holds the businesses accountable who aided them in their crimes, by purchasing of stolen goods."

Photos courtesy of the Harford County Sheriff's Office.