LIVINGSTON PARISH — Two people have been arrested following an investigation into a series of copper wire thefts that authorities say caused more than $300,000 in losses to AT&T.
According to the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office, detectives executed search warrants at a residence on Brown Pelican Road and at a business in Hammond with assistance from the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office. During the searches, investigators recovered approximately 3,400 pounds of stripped and burned AT&T copper wire.
Sheriff Jason Ard said the recovered copper has an estimated street value of about $18,000, but the financial loss to AT&T exceeds $300,000 due to damage to critical infrastructure.
Detectives have linked the recovered wire to five theft cases in Livingston Parish and believe additional cases in other jurisdictions may also be connected. The investigation remains ongoing.
Arrested were Todd Pearce, 42, and Ashley Landry, 41. Both are being held in the Livingston Parish Detention Center on multiple charges, including five counts of theft and five counts of criminal damage to critical infrastructure. The sheriff's office said additional charges are possible in Livingston Parish and other jurisdictions.
The Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office thanked the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office for its assistance in the investigation.
