Chop-shop defendant jailed for theft of metal

5/6/2014

BOWLING GREEN — A Toledo man awaiting sentencing in federal court for his role in a large-scale chop-shop operation is to begin serving a 60-day jail sentence Friday for stealing scrap metal.

Gary G. Wymer, Jr., 28, of 139 E. Broadway, pleaded no contest April 24 in Wood County Common Pleas Court to aggravated theft. On Friday, Judge Alan Mayberry placed him on community control for three years and ordered him to perform 150 hours of community service and to pay $86,271 restitution to Berner Trucking.

A co-defendant in the Wood County case, William Blasingim, 40, of 941 Willow St., pleaded guilty to theft and was sentenced to six months in prison and ordered to pay the restitution to Berner Trucking jointly with Wymer.

In U.S. District Court, Wymer pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport interstate commerce truck tractors, trailers, and cargo he knew to be stolen.