January 13, 2009

Attorney General Corbett & PSP announce the break-up of a large-scale Philly theft ring as a result of "Operation Bad Drive"

BENSALEM - A large-scale theft ring, responsible for at least 40 thefts at country clubs across southeastern Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey, was broken-up today by the Attorney General's Office and Pennsylvania State Police. Attorney General Tom Corbett said the investigation, known as "Operation Bad Drive," began in 2008 after State Police began investigating numerous vehicle break-ins at country clubs in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Philadelphia, and Montgomery counties, as well as in New Jersey and Delaware.

Among the country clubs hit were Aronimink Golf Club, Newton Township, Delaware County; Philmont Country Club, Lower Moreland Township, Montgomery County; Bensalem Country Club, Bensalem Township, Bucks County; and Glen Hardie Country Club, Tredyffrin Township, Chester County.

Corbett said that the investigation centered on Michael Pacitti and four accomplices, who allegedly made purchases using the stolen credit cards at retail stores throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Evidence and testimony about the case was presented to a statewide investigating grand jury, which recommended the criminal charges being filed today.

According to the grand jury, in the spring of 2008, Pacitti began breaking into vehicles parked at area country clubs, and stole credit cards and other expensive items left in the car, including, GPS devices, laptop computers and iPods.

Corbett said that Pacitti targeted unlocked vehicles or entered the vehicles by using master keys, or even by using golf  balls to break the windows, making it appear to the owner as though someone had hit an out of bounds shot that struck their car.

The grand jury found that Pacitti gave the stolen credit cards to Todd Stark, Nicholas Cordisio or Kimberly Kinkade and had them make multiple high end purchases at local retail stores.

Corbett said that at least 34 different country clubs were hit by the Pacitti burglary ring, and some clubs were hit more than once. The group is responsible for purchasing and selling more than $100,000 worth of stolen merchandise and attempting to make more than $25,000 in credit card purchases.

Corbett said that purchases were made at stores such as Home Depot, Dicks, Old Navy, Best Buy, Target, Circuit City, Apple Store, Walmart, Macy's, Polo, Puma, Coach, Waterford Crystal, Gamestop, Bloomingdales, and others.
 
"This was a very organized operation," Corbett said. "These defendants knew that they had a small window of time to make high-end purchases before the stolen cards were cancelled. They capitalized on that and were able to make thousands of dollars worth of purchases for resale on the black market."

The grand jury found that as the fraudulent purchases were being made, Pacitti arranged to sell the items to "fences" that he contacted. Fences are individuals who knowingly buy stolen property for resale.

Corbett said that Pacitti's primary fence was identified as Dan Phuc Tran, 30, Philadelphia.

According to the grand jury, Tran had a business relationship with Pacitti and purchased several big screen televisions, a home theater system, laptop computers and other stolen merchandise from him in the past.

Corbett said that an undercover officer arranged two controlled transactions with Tran for a 52-inch Sony TV, a smaller TV and a laptop computer.

Tran turned over three big screen televisions, three laptop computers and one home theater system, with an approximate retail value of $9,600, to State Police. These items were allegedly purchased from Pacitti.

Corbett noted that this is part of an ongoing investigation.

Other individuals who feel that they may have been victimized by this ring are encouraged to contact either their local police department or the Pennsylvania State Police at 215-791-7282.

Corbett thanked the FBI, the Philadelphia Police Department, the Upper Dublin Police Depart and the Warminster Police Department for their assistance with the investigation.

The case will be prosecuted in Bucks County by Chief Deputy Attorney General Erik Olsen of the Attorney General's Organized Crime Section.

A complete list of the defendants and the charges against them is below.

--Michael Pacitti, 39, currently incarcerated in Federal prison, is charged with one count of theft by unlawful taking or deposition, one count of identity theft, one count of forgery, one count of theft by deception, one count of theft from a motor vehicle, one count of access device fraud, one count of receiving stolen property, one count of criminal mischief, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of criminal attempt theft by deception.

--Todd Stark, 40, Delaire Landing Apartments, Philadelphia, is charged with one count of theft by unlawful taking or disposition, one count of identity theft, one count of forgery, one count of theft by deception, one count of theft from a motor vehicle, one count of access device fraud, one count of receiving stolen property, one count of criminal mischief, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of criminal attempt theft by deception.

--Kimberly Kinkade, 25, 3500 block of Sheffield Street, Philadelphia, is charged with one count of theft by unlawful taking or disposition, one count of identity theft, one count of forgery, one count of theft by deception, one count of theft from a motor vehicle, one count of access device fraud, one count of receiving stolen property, one count of criminal mischief, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of criminal attempt theft by deception.

--Nicholas Cordisio, 27, 900 block of Morris Street, Philadelphia, is charged with one count of theft by unlawful taking or disposition, one count of identity theft, one count of forgery, one count of theft by deception, one count of theft from a motor vehicle, one count of access device fraud, one count of receiving stolen property, one count of criminal mischief, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of criminal attempt theft by deception.

-- Dan Phuc Tran, 30, 6500 block of Wheeler Street, Philadelphia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to receive stolen property, one count of receiving stolen property and one count of attempt to receive stolen property.

A complete list of the country clubs where vehicle break-ins occurred is below:

--Edgmont Country Club, Edgmont Township, Delaware County (hit twice)

--Waynesborough Country Club, Easttown Township, Chester County

--Paxon Hollow Country Club, Marple Township, Delaware County

--Tyler Arbortoreum, Middletown Township, Delaware County

--Chester Valley Country Club, East Whiteland Township, Chester County (hit three times)

--5 Ponds Country Club, Warminster Township, Bucks County (hit three times)

--Philmont Country Club, Lower Moreland Township, Montgomery County

--Loch Narin Country Club, New Garden Township, Chester County

--Aronimink Golf Club, Newtown Township, Delaware County

--Bensalem Country Club, Bensalem Township, Bucks County

--Buena Vista Country Club, Buena Vista Township, Atlantic City, New Jersey

--Ramblewood Country Club, Mt. Laurel Township, Burlington County, New Jersey

--Medford Lakes Country Club, Medford Lakes Township, Burlington County, New Jersey

--Concord Country Club, Chadds Ford Township, Delaware County

--Lulu Country Club, Upper Dublin Township, Montgomery County

--Manufacturers Country Club, Upper Dublin Township, Montgomery County

--Sandy Run Country Club, Springfield Township, Montgomery County

--North Hills Country Club, Springfield Township, Montgomery County

--John Byrne Golf Course, Philadelphia County

--Jericho National Country Club, Upper Makefield Township, Bucks County

--Philadelphia Cricket Club, Whitemarsh Township, Montgomery County

--Ace Center, Whitemarsh Township, Montgomery County

--Huntingdon Valley Country Club, Upper Moreland Township, Montgomery County

--ACAC Athletic Club, West Goshen Township, Chester County

--Turtle Creek Limerick, Westtown East Goshen, Montgomery County

--Springford Country Club, Limerick Township, Montgomery County

--Indian Valley Country Club, Franconia Township, Montgomery County

--Fox Hollow Golf Course, Mitford Township, Bucks County

--Pen Ryn Mansion, Bensalem Township, Bucks County

--Glenhardie Country Club, Tredyffrin Township, Chester County

--Wilmington Country Club, New Castle County, Delaware

--Whitford Country Club, West Whiteland Township, Chester County

--Knob Hill Country Club, Manalapan Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey

--Cranberry Golf Club, West Windsor Township, Mercer County, New Jersey

 

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