Submitted article

Marion County’s Sheriff Tim Bailey announced for that a six-month investigation concluded with a bust of a multi-jurisdictional theft ring.

The investigation included the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Marion City Police Department, MARMET-METRICH Drug Task Force, Columbus Police Department, Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office and Ohio Organized Crime Commission. They were assisted by County Sheriff’s Offices from Crawford, Delaware, Logan, Hardin, and Richland as well as police departments from Forest, Tiffin, Mt. Vernon, Upper Sandusky, Westerville, and Ontario.

This theft ring affected eleven counties: Delaware, Marion, Hardin, Franklin, Logan, Seneca, Hancock, Morrow, Wyandot, Knox, and Richland. Twelve different store chains were victims to these theft suspects with a loss of over $75,000 in merchandise. The case resulted in several felony indictments by a Delaware County Grand Jury this week.

Those indicted are as follows:

• Wendy Emmons, 46 years of age, Currently Incarcerated Marysville, Ohio;
• Jordan Emmons, 24 years of age, 1057 Jamaica Drive Marion, Ohio;
• Justin Emmons, 26 years of age, 1821 Dorsetshire Rd Columbus, Ohio;
• Philip Burkholder, 82 years of age, 305 East Dixon Street Forest, Ohio;
• Brittany Chafin, 24 years of age, 1821 Doresetshire Rd Columbus, Ohio;
• Stevie Henry, 25 years of age, 476 Polk Street Marion, Ohio;
• Sasha Steele, 23 years of age, 1057 Jamaica Dr. Marion, Ohio; and
• Michael Jenkins, 32 years of age, 205 Superior Street Marion, Ohio.

All eight defendants were indicted for a first degree felony count of Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt as well as a third degree felony count for each suspect for Money Laundering.

In addition to the first and third degree felonies for each suspect, Wendy Emmons was indicted with four additional fifth degree felony counts of theft, Jordan Emmons and Michael Jenkins were each indicted with three additional fifth degree felony counts of theft, and Justin Emmons with six additional counts of fifth degree felony theft. Sasha Steele, Stevie Henry, and Brittany Chafin each were indicted for two additional counts of fifth degree felony theft. Philip Burkholder was indicted with two additional counts of third degree felony money laundering.

Sheriff Tim Bailey stated this is the second investigation this year related to a large multijurisdictional theft ring where thousands of dollars of merchandise has been stolen which resulted in several subjects being indicted by a Delaware County Grand Jury. Sheriff Bailey thanked all the agencies and public involved and the stores for their efforts in bringing this investigation to a conclusion.