Mother And Son Charged With Stealing $10K In Chain Saws
MASON, Mich. (WWJ/AP) - A mother and son from the Chicago area are charged in Michigan with being part of a chain saw theft ring.
Gaci Juric and Ali Ivanov of Northfield, Ill., are charged with two counts each of first-degree retail fraud and operating a continuing criminal enterprise.
The Ingham County sheriff's office says the 57-year-old Juric and the 35-year-old Ivanov, along with another person, stole nearly $10,000 worth of Stihl-brand chain saws from various Michigan stores in March 2013 and tried to sell them on Craigslist in the Chicago area.
Most of the chain saws were recovered. The third suspect was still at large Wednesday.
Sheriff's officials said Ivanov and Juric each posted a $50,000 cash bond following an arraignment in 55th District Court last week and were released from jail. They face a preliminary examination later this month in Mason District Court.
Defense lawyer William Hankins said Wednesday he has no comment on the allegations against his clients. He says "it's early in the game."
WLNS-TV in Lansing reported investigators from eight departments in four Michigan counties and two Chicago departments have worked together for a year on the case.
If convicted, Ivanov and Juric could spend up to 20 years in prison and be ordered to pay $100,000 in fines.
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