>>RELATED: “Band of Thieves” crime ring members plead guilty in Clark County
The group of seven men were accused of going on a crime spree across Southwest Ohio last year and all of them have since pleaded guilty. More than 20 different law enforcement agencies investigated the group, which lead to a total of 74 charges against the crime ring members, according to court records.
Clark County Assistant Prosecutor Andrew Picek asked a judge Wednesday for the maximum sentence for Terry because of the way Terry used crime to support himself.
“(Terry was) the CEO of this business, which to he plead guilty to … and that business being committing these offenses: thefts, breaking and enterings, stealing cars, breaking into out buildings,” Picek said.
The Band of Thieves took tools, ATMs, cars and more. They reportedly hit barns, garages, small businesses and even county buildings. Many of the crimes were committed between midnight and 6 a.m., Clark County Prosecutor Andy Wilson said at the time of their arrest.
A surveillance video the Miami County Sheriff’s Offices has of one of the thefts shows a truck stolen from New Carlisle slamming into a Miami County storefront, where the men then take off with the ATM from inside the business.
>>DETAILS: ‘Band of Thieves’ indicted on 74 charges, linked to Clark, 10 other counties
Law enforcement in the case estimated the group stole between “multi-thousands of dollars to millions,” according to court records.
Terry’s defense attorney, Brian Joslyn, said his client’s criminal ways stem from addiction problems.
“He is plagued in his life with some drug and alcohol problems,” Joslyn told the judge.
Terry declined to make any statement in court before his sentencing.
Judge Douglas Rastatter cited the 12 times Terry has been sent to prison before in similar criminal cases before he told him the maximum sentence was necessary.
Prosecutors favored the highest penalties, Picek said.
“To prevent him from having the opportunity to mentor other individuals to be more like him,” the assistant prosecutor said.
Several of the other men in the crime ring — Billy Barrett, Markus Barrett, Jerry Bush, Jesse Rieder, Ricky Large — are all in prison serving time between two and 15 years for their part in the crimes.
The last Band of Thieves member to be sentenced, Kenneth Melton, is scheduled to be in court on Oct. 6, according to court records.
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