News

April 30, 2008

Five are charged in area theft ring

JEN MARCKINI jmarckini@timesleader.com

PITTSTON – Five people were nabbed Tuesday for their alleged involvement in a burglary ring in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties.

Ronald J. Gieski, 22, of 1308 Spruce St., Avoca, was charged with burglary, criminal trespass, criminal mischief and theft stemming from daytime burglaries in February and March at two Main Street homes in Duryea, according to arrest papers.

Gieski is accused in a March 11 break-in at 1319 Main St., where, police say, he stole more than $18,000 worth of items, including saving bonds and a handgun owned by Chester and Christine Lenceski.

Gieski told police he sold the steel-blue gun to a Scranton man named “Big Mike” for drugs and money, according to the affidavit. He also is charged with selling the stolen firearm. He was committed to the Luzerne County Correctional Facility in lieu of $90,000 bail.

About a month before and just down the road from Lenceski’s home, Gieski allegedly stole copper pipes and wire at a fire-damaged house at 1313 Main St., according to arrest papers. He allegedly conspired in the Feb. 14 crime with 19-year-old Justin Lynn Thompson, 110 First St., Avoca, who is charged with burglary, criminal mischief, conspiracy and theft for stealing the copper pipes later sold at a Scranton scrap yard, according to police.

Gieski is also charged with burglary and other charges related to an April 2 burglary at 1117 Plane St. in Avoca, where he allegedly stole a .40-caliber handgun, ammunition and credit cards from owners Patrick and Mary Lavelle, according to the affidavit. The gun apparently was sold to a Scranton man, police said.

After making numerous purchases with Mary Lavelle’s credit cards, Gieski would later tell police he gave the cards to Thompson and David Joseph Kelly, 19, of Scranton, who both were charged receiving stolen property, arrests papers show.

Thompson was also charged with access-device fraud for allegedly using the AOL and Chase Visa credit cards and then giving both cards to his cousin, Nicole Howe, 24, of 608 Sixth St., Avoca, police said.

Howe was charged with similar offenses, including criminal attempt for trying to buy cell phone minutes with one of the stolen cards, but the transactions were denied by the card company, police said.

Kelly told police he and Thompson met with Gieski at a garage on Rocky Glen Road in Moosic and asked what they could do with the credit cards, according to the affidavit.

A total of $272.01 in gas was purchased in Scranton, according to arrest papers.

On April 3, Avoca police Chief David Homschek and Duryea police Sgt. Nicholas Lohman reviewed video surveillance at the Turkey Hill in Moosic, according to the affidavit. Someone was captured on the video pumping gas into a green Mitsubishi Galant and another green vehicle believed to be a Ford Contour, police reported.

Howe told police the other car was owned by Brandon Joseph Rowlands, 20, of 403 Center St., Taylor, police said.

He is charged with receiving stolen property, access device fraud and criminal conspiracy.

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