More Than 50 Law Enforcement Agencies Break Up 'Willy Wonka' Ring

SALEM, MA -- Massachusetts State Police say more than 50 law enforcement agencies participated in a six-month investigation called Operation Golden Ticket that resulted in a 171-count indictment against five defendants. The five defendants are facing a length list of charges, including breaking and entering, larceny, conspiracy, and receiving stolen motor vehicles. The five people from Lawrence allegedly committed crimes in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.

Among the crews crimes were 17 commercial and ATM burglaries and 12 car thefts for a total of more than $300,000 in stolen goods, police said. Three of the suspects were arraigned in Salem Superior Court Thursday, while two suspects remained at large.

The suspects who were arraigned Thursday were:

• William Rodriguez, also known as "Willy Wonka" and "Chocolate Man," 47, of Lawrence, on 60 charges, including two counts of conspiracy, 14 counts of breaking and entering in the night to commit a felony, nine counts of possessing burglarious tools, 11 counts of breaking into a safe or depository, 12 counts of receiving stolen motor vehicle, subsequent offense, nine counts of larceny, one count of receiving stolen property, one count of resisting arrest, and assault dangerous weapon.
• Nelson "Pito" Rodriguez, 43, of Lawrence, on 44 charges, including two counts of conspiracy, trafficking in fentanyl over 10 grams, six counts of possessing burglarious tools, nine counts of breaking and entering in the night to commit a felony, seven counts of breaking into a safe or depository, seven counts of receiving stolen motor vehicle, subsequent offense, six counts of larceny, and receiving stolen property.
• Marilyn Santago, 38, of Lawrence, on two charges of accessory after the fact to a felony and conspiracy.

Chepiel "Chep" Sanchez, 41 and Ignaciao "Iggy" Duran, 41, both of Lawrence, remain at larges. William Rodriguez, Nelson Rodriquez, Sanchez and Duran were also charged as habitual offenders under the state habitual offender law.

The indictments stem from the following incidents, State Police said:

February 9, 2018

• Theft of a Jeep Cherokee in Waltham
• Break-in to a Dunkin Donuts in Needham, and theft of an ATM and Currency valued at $3,600
• Break-in to a Gulf Station in Needham.

February 10, 2018

• Break-in to an Enterprise Rent-a-Car in Portsmouth, NH
• Theft of a Five Vehicles from Enterprise Rent-a-Car in Portsmouth, NH
• Break-in to Healthpoint Fitness in Waltham, and theft of a Citizens Bank ATM containing $52,000.

February 19, 2018

• Theft of a Plymouth Voyager in Fall River
• Break-in to a Verizon Wireless Store in Swansea and theft of over $90,000 in Electronics
• Break-in to United Check Cashing, in Medford and theft of a Safe containing $10,000 in cash
• Break-in to a U-Haul branch in Malden.

February 24, 2018

• Theft of a Dodge Caravan in Plainfield, CT
• Break-in to a Verizon Wireless Store in Plainfield, CT, and theft of over $35,000 in electronics.

March 3, 2018

• Theft of a Ford van in West Springfield
• Break-in to a Florence Bank ATM, in West Springfield and theft of approximately $61,000 cash.

March 7, 2018

• Break-in to a Mobil Station in Hanover and theft of approximately $8,000 in cash.

March 16, 2018

• Break-in to Doctor Wheels in Yarmouth
• Theft of a Jeep Cherokee in Yarmouth
• Break-in to a Bank of America ATM in Bourne
• Break-in to Ukrainian Federal Credit Union in Westwood and theft of $10,000 cash from an ATM.

March 30, 2018

• Theft of a Jeep Cherokee in Newburyport
• Break-in to a North Shore Bank ATM in Plaistow, NH
• Break-in to a Speedway in Needham and theft of a safe

April 21, 2018

• Break-in to a Citizens Bank ATM in Marlborough
• Theft of a Dodge Intrepid in Pawtucket, RI
• Break-in to State Line Convenience in Attleboro and theft of over $10,000 in cigarettes
• Theft of a Ford Van in Attleboro

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Patch file photo via Shutterstock.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).