A grand jury in Mineola, New York indicted 15 workers of the Long Island Rail Road and two scrap dealers on Friday for allegedly stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of copper wires.
Eight of the defendants pleaded not guilty and the remainder were expected to be arraigned later in the day, reported the AP.
The robberies allegedly occurred over two years in rail yards on Long Island and New York City.
The investigation ended in the arrests Tuesday of the telecommunications linemen who had unrestricted access to the copper.
The workers allegedly targeted the LIRR rail yards in West Islip; Jamaica, Queens and the Atlantic Avenue viaduct.
The copper was allegedly sold on the black market to scrap yards.
Charges in the indictment unsealed against the first eight vary from conspiracy to grand larceny to possession of stolen property. Attorneys for several of the defendants said the copper wiring allegedly stolen was scrap that was to be discarded.
Christopher Natale of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen planned to issue a statement later Friday.
The Nassau County District Attorney is expected to update the media on the investigation.
FOX 5 News has reached out to the MTA which operates the LIRR for comment. The MTA says it will issue a statement later today.
Sunday, May 26 2013 12:01 AM EDT2013-05-26 04:01:47 GMT
Suffolk County police arrested a man who was driving drunk with his daughter in the car after he caused a three-car crash on Long Island Friday afternoon.
Suffolk County police arrested a man who was driving drunk with his daughter in the car after he caused a three-car crash on Long Island Friday afternoon.
Saturday, May 25 2013 10:27 PM EDT2013-05-26 02:27:43 GMT
New Yorkers that have visited City Island in the summer know it gets really busy, especially on Memorial Day weekend. Saturday, it was pretty much a ghost town thanks to the cold, rainy weather.
New Yorkers that have visited City Island in the summer know it gets really busy, especially on Memorial Day weekend. Saturday, it was pretty much a ghost town thanks to the cold, rainy weather.
Saturday, May 25 2013 6:13 PM EDT2013-05-25 22:13:45 GMT
Nassau County police have once again arrested the woman who was convicted last year for offering services as a prostitute from her hot dog vending truck.
Nassau County police have once again arrested the woman who was convicted last year for offering services as a prostitute from her hot dog vending truck.
Saturday, May 25 2013 5:08 PM EDT2013-05-25 21:08:28 GMT
Nassau County health officials announced that due to heavy rainfall, 19 beaches have been closed to bathing as a precautionary measure beginning Saturday, May 25.
Nassau County health officials announced that due to heavy rainfall, 19 beaches have been closed to bathing as a precautionary measure beginning Saturday, May 25.
Saturday, May 25 2013 4:42 PM EDT2013-05-25 20:42:49 GMT
First the Sequester cuts took the American military out of the Jones Beach Air Show and now the cold and rainy start to Memorial Day has washed out the first day of the air show.
First the Sequester cuts took the American military out of the Jones Beach Air Show and now the cold and rainy start to Memorial Day has washed out the first day of the air show.
Friday, May 24 2013 10:44 PM EDT2013-05-25 02:44:03 GMT
The unofficial start of summer is being met with not-so-perfect beach weather. Many beach communities had been hoping for good weather this Memorial Day weekend following the destruction caused by Superstorm Sandy.
The unofficial start of summer is being met with not-so-perfect beach weather. Many beach communities had been hoping for good weather this Memorial Day weekend following the destruction caused by superstorm Sandy. The Fox 5 weather team is calling for sunny skies on Sunday and Monday.
