Tyrone Borough Police have made two arrests in a case where a husband and wife were allegedly involved in a scheme that involved the stealing of computer printers and/or parts and then selling the items on E-Bay and to a company in Georgia.
Tyrone Police Chief Joseph Beachem said Thomas A. and Jonelle P. Miller of 1211 Cameron Avenue were arraigned yesterday before Magisterial District Judge Fred Miller.
In an affidavit of probable cause obtained by the Daily Herald, police allege that Thomas Miller ordered computer printers and/or parts from his employer, Getronics of Billerica, MA, by opening bogus service calls and ordering printers/parts and having the items shipped to his residence in Tyrone between November of last year and June 20.
Police said 312 printers/parts valued at $234,844.40 were shipped to Miller’s residence. He also allegedly charged the shipping totaling $20,354 to his company through their UPS account.
Tyrone Police said they were notified in June by an attorney for Miller’s company that he had been with the firm since 1999. He was employed as a home-based call qualifier.
The attorney told police the company had learned that Miller was opening bogus service calls via computer and then ordering parts and printers, which were shipped to his house.
Once the items were shipped, the service calls were closed. The attorney said that Miller in his role as a call qualifier was not authorized to open service calls.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, the company’s attorney reported on June 19 that Miller had order two printers that morning and the items were expected to be delivered the next day by UPS.
A search warrant was obtained in anticipation of the delivery of the printers after consulting with the Blair County DA’s office. On June 20, Tyrone Police were informed a third printer would be delivered since Miller had added another printer to the shipment.
Surveillance was conducted outside Miller’s house and at 10:18 a.m. a UPS truck pulled up to Miller’s house and three large boxes were placed on the porch. No one signed for the delivery.
The search warrant was executed early in the afternoon of June 20 on the Miller residence. The warrant started with the boxes on the porch then officers also searched the house and two laptop computers were seized along with a personal computer and several printers.
A Getronics employee was present during the search and identified company property that was at the residence including computer parts, equipment and printers. Police also learned through Getronics about the sale of printers and parts to a Georgia-based company, Computer exchange. The company told Getronics they were buying the items off E-Bay.
The affidavit of probable cause alleges Miller’s wife, Jonelle posted the items on E-Bay. After numerous E-Bay transactions Computer Exchange began dealing directly with Mrs. Miller.
Computer Exchange provided Getronics’ attorney with information related to equipment it bought from Mrs. Miller. Police allege that Mrs. Miller sold 238 printers to Computer Exchange for approximately $92,525 between November of 2005 and June of this year.
Thomas Miller was arrested for unlawful use of a computer, theft by unlawful taking, criminal conspiracy, receiving stolen property; all felonies and other misdemeanor charges.
Jonelle Miller faces charges of theft by unlawful taking, criminal conspiracy, receiving stolen property; all felonies and two misdemeanor counts.
Judge Miller said Thomas Miller was free on $750,000 unsecured bail with the condition that he remain in the state. Mrs. Miller is free on $500,000 unsecured bail.
A preliminary hearing scheduled for Tuesday was continued until Oct. 3 by agreement of all parties involved.
