AUBURN - A Michigan man was sentenced to time served in Cayuga County Court Wednesday for stealing $3,385 from an elderly Weedsport resident in 1995.
Eli Miller, 41, also was sentenced by Judge Peter Corning to $850 restitution. Miller spent a total of eight days in local custody on the third-degree burglary charge.
Miller was part of a burglary crew from a Chicago-based, Gypsy-organized crime clan that targeted vulnerable households during a trip to the region, said Chief Assistant District Attorney Jon Budelmann.
Miller previously admitted he and at least one other co-defendant entered a residence on Liberty Street and stole money Sept. 7, 1995, from an 85-year-old resident.
The resident had been distracted by the men's request for a drink of water and didn't realize they had stolen her savings, but a sharp-eyed neighbor wrote down the license plate number and description of the rental van they were driving.
The neighbor's information helped authorities track down the men, leading them to information from a Chicago-based police officer specializing in investigating Gypsy-organized crime; the same neighbor was able to pick out the four burglars' pictures from a group provided by Chicago police.
Extradition requests for Miller's three codefendants have been denied by judges, Budelmann said.
One denial for the extradition for Robert Ely - who was named by Miller as part of his cooperation with authorities - is under appeal, Budelmann said.
Also in court:
- James Blair, 51, of Hartwick, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a felony charge of third-degree robbery. Blair admitted he robbed money from the A-Plus Mini Mart on Genesee Street at 3:15 a.m. July 15.
- Ponce De Leon Goings, 26, of Rochester, was resentenced Wednesday to six months in Cayuga County Jail because his codefendant, Melanie Driscoll, 31, of Rochester, was conditionally discharged for a related crime.
Driscoll set up Goings as a delivery person to smuggle six ounces of marijuana into the Auburn Correctional Facility Oct. 6 and drove him to the prison from Rochester.
- Henry Hughes, 42, of 49 Walnut St., Auburn, pleaded guilty Tuesday to the felony charge of fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Hughes admitted to the possession of crack cocaine, scales and packing materials. His sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 25.
- Hughes' wife, Rebecca Hughes, 35, pleaded guilty Tuesday to two felony charges of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Hughes admitted she sold crack cocaine. Her sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 25.
- Kathy McMonagle-Rich, 40, 13193 Guernsey Road, Ira, pleaded guilty Tuesday to the felony charge of second-degree criminal possession of marijuana. McMonagle-Rich admitted she received more than six pounds of marijuana sent from Tucson, Ariz., Dec. 15. Her sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 25.
Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net
Miller was part of a burglary crew from a Chicago-based, Gypsy-organized crime clan that targeted vulnerable households during a trip to the region, said Chief Assistant District Attorney Jon Budelmann.
Miller previously admitted he and at least one other co-defendant entered a residence on Liberty Street and stole money Sept. 7, 1995, from an 85-year-old resident.
The resident had been distracted by the men's request for a drink of water and didn't realize they had stolen her savings, but a sharp-eyed neighbor wrote down the license plate number and description of the rental van they were driving.
The neighbor's information helped authorities track down the men, leading them to information from a Chicago-based police officer specializing in investigating Gypsy-organized crime; the same neighbor was able to pick out the four burglars' pictures from a group provided by Chicago police.
Extradition requests for Miller's three codefendants have been denied by judges, Budelmann said.
One denial for the extradition for Robert Ely - who was named by Miller as part of his cooperation with authorities - is under appeal, Budelmann said.
Also in court:
- James Blair, 51, of Hartwick, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a felony charge of third-degree robbery. Blair admitted he robbed money from the A-Plus Mini Mart on Genesee Street at 3:15 a.m. July 15.
- Ponce De Leon Goings, 26, of Rochester, was resentenced Wednesday to six months in Cayuga County Jail because his codefendant, Melanie Driscoll, 31, of Rochester, was conditionally discharged for a related crime.
Driscoll set up Goings as a delivery person to smuggle six ounces of marijuana into the Auburn Correctional Facility Oct. 6 and drove him to the prison from Rochester.
- Henry Hughes, 42, of 49 Walnut St., Auburn, pleaded guilty Tuesday to the felony charge of fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Hughes admitted to the possession of crack cocaine, scales and packing materials. His sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 25.
- Hughes' wife, Rebecca Hughes, 35, pleaded guilty Tuesday to two felony charges of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Hughes admitted she sold crack cocaine. Her sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 25.
- Kathy McMonagle-Rich, 40, 13193 Guernsey Road, Ira, pleaded guilty Tuesday to the felony charge of second-degree criminal possession of marijuana. McMonagle-Rich admitted she received more than six pounds of marijuana sent from Tucson, Ariz., Dec. 15. Her sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 25.
Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net
Citizen
Hot Jobs
New! Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are No comments posted.