12 Charged in Copper Wire Theft Ring in Buncombe County

Buncombe County  -- April 3, 2022: On March 30, 22,  Buncombe County Sheriff's Office charged 12 people with stealing

copper communication wire in Buncombe County and selling it to scrap yards across WNC. This folowed a weeks-long criminal investigation involving various law enforcement agencies across the state.

During the course of this investigation, detectives from the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office's Property Crimes Unit collaborated with numerous units within the Sheriff's Office, as well as the McDowell and Mitchell County Sheriff's Offices. During this investigation, the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office executed six search warrants on Western North Carolina scrap yards, as well as homes, vehicles, and cell phones, after generating leads. So far, 169 criminal charges have been brought in connection with the thefts.

The following individuals have been charged by the Sheriff's Office in connection with the theft ring.
Nathaniel Bruce Scott Styles of Candler is charged with:
- 8 counts of Felony Larceny
- 9 counts of Felony Conspiracy
- 11 counts of Injury to Utility Wires
- 9 counts of Injury to Property while Obtaining Nonferrous Metal
- 1 count of Possession of Methamphetamine
Amanda Diane Bailey of Candler is charged with:
- 5 counts of Felony Conspiracy
- 3 counts of Injury to Utility Wire
- 2 counts of Injury to Property While Obtaining Nonferrous Metal
- 1 count of Felony Larceny
- 1 count of Aiding and Abetting Felony Larceny
- 1 count of Possession of Methamphetamine
Samuel Nathan Mortier of Candler is charged with:
- 1 count of Felony Larceny
- 7 counts of Felony Conspiracy,
- 4 counts of Felony Injury to Property while Obtaining Nonferrous Metal
- 4 counts of Felony Injury to Utility Wire
- 1 count of Felony Obtaining Property by False Pretense
Michael Joel Ingle of Candler is charged with:
- 10 counts of Felony Conspiracy
- 7 counts of Felony Injury to Property while Obtaining Nonferrous Metal
- 6 counts of Felony Injury to Utility Wire
- 1 count of Felony Obtaining Property by False Pretense
Carahlynn Jordon Thomas of Weaverville is charged with:
- Obtaining Property by False Pretense
- Felony Conspiracy to Obtain Property by False Pretenses
Kendra Mae Akins of Candler is charged with:
- 3 counts of obtaining property by false pretenses
Brandon Wayne Wilson of Candler is charged with:
- 6 counts of Felony conspiracy
- 4 counts of Injury to Property While Obtaining Nonferrous Metal.
- 3 counts of Injury to Utility Wire
- 1 count of Felony larceny
Bryan Douglas McAninch of Candler is charged with:
- Felony possession of stolen goods
- Obtaining Property by False Pretenses
- Misdemeanor possession of stolen goods
Edward Lemuel Hoglen of Candler is charged with:
- 2 counts of Felony Larceny
- 3 counts of Felony conspiracy
- 2 counts of Injury to Property While Obtaining Nonferrous Metal
- 2 counts of Injury to Utility Wire
Thomas Edward Pitts of Candler is charged with:
- 1 count of Felony Possession of Stolen Property
- 1 count of Felony Larceny
- 3 counts of Felony Conspiracy
- 1 count of Injury to Property while Obtaining Nonferrous Metal
- 1 count of Injury to Utility Wires
Tommy Presten Akins of Candler is charged with:
- Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle
- 6 counts of Felony Conspiracy
- 3 counts of Felony Larceny
- 2 counts of Injury to Property While Obtaining Nonferrous Metal
- 5 counts of Injury to Utility Wire
Danny Mack Akins Jr. of Candler is charged with:
- 9 counts of Felony Conspiracy
- 4 counts of Felony Larceny
- 3 counts of Injury to Property While Obtaining Nonferrous Metal
- 6 counts of Injury to Utility Wire
Danny Mack Akins Jr. faces additional charges not related to the copper wire theft that include felony flee to elude, driving while license revoked, and careless and reckless driving.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Danny Mack Akins Jr. or Tommy Presten Akins is asked to contact the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office at 828.250.6670.

*Editor's Note: A criminal charge is an accusation, by law, a person accused of a crime is innocent until proven in a court of law.