Crime & Safety
Crook Known As 'Willy Wonka' Pleads Guilty In ATM Theft Ring
William Rodriguez, 47, will serve 8-12 years in state prison under the terms of his plea agreement.
SALEM, MA -- A 47-year-old Lawrence man who went by the names "Willy Wonka" and "The Chocolate Man" pleaded guilty Thursday to 60 charges stemming from a string of thefts of ATM machines. William Rodriguez faces a sentence of eight to 12 years when he returns to court on November 7.
In August, authorities said a six-month investigation involving 50 law enforcement agencies led to the arrest of Rodriguez and four other suspects. Investigators called the investigation "Operation Golden Ticket" and presented evidence of 17 commercial and ATM burglaries and 12 car thefts for a total of more than $300,000 in stolen goods in four states.
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Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).
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