Baytown Sun in Baytown, Texas

Jury Indicts 12 In Six-State Vehicle Theft Ring

A Harris County grand jury indicted 12 people including a former small Texas town police chief and officers for operating a theft ring that moved stolen trailers, trucks, cars, and boats across six states. The scheme allegedly involved altered vehicle identification numbers and fake Alabama registrations. State and federal authorities recovered eight trailers, six pickups, a dump truck, a tractor, a van, and five late model cars plus two boats valued at about 110000. Indictments span Texas Florida Oklahoma Louisiana Alabama Tennessee, with bonds set from 100 to 5000 dollars and one 20000-dollar bond for the principal. Additional defendants include Murial and Ethel Morgan, Jack and Sue Williams, Gary Melton, Allen Stacey and Steve Stacey.