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New Details: Three arrested in connection to Suwannee County car burglaries

Three people arrested in connection to car burglaries, selling the stolen items for cocaine
Posted at 1:00 PM, May 18, 2018
and last updated 2018-05-18 18:41:08-04

SUWANNEE COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - Three Live Oak people have been arrested in connection to a string of car burglaries in Suwannee County and selling the stolen items for cocaine.  

Angela Mooney, 46, of Live Oak, John Collier, 44, of Live Oak, and Chester Chaires, 47, of Live Oak have all been arrested by the Suwannee County Sheriff's Office. 

Investigators with SCSO have been investigating a string of vehicle burglaries since April. 

During the investigation, deputies were able to determine that a credit card that was stolen in one of the burglaries was used at a Walmart shortly after the theft. 

Deputies were then able to identify one of the suspects as Mooney. 

On Tuesday, deputies were able to find Mooney and while talking to deputies, she admitted using the stolen credit card at Walmart. 

Mooney informed deputies about other vehicle burglaries that were committed throughout Suwannee County and Live Oak.  

On Wednesday, deputies found and stopped a car driven by Collier. When deputies searched his car, they found stolen items from three previously reported vehicle burglaries.  

After conducting more interviews with Mooney and Collier, deputies discovered that many of the stolen items, including handguns, GPS devices, tablet computers, Bluetooth headsets, watches, and cell phones were given to Chaires in exchange for cocaine.  

On Thursday, with the assistance of the Suwannee County SWAT Team, deputies executed a search warrant in the 900 block of Brown Street. 

When deputies entered the residence, property that had been previously reported as stolen was found, as well as drug paraphernalia.  

Based on the evidence, Mooney was charged with fraudulent use of a credit card and dealing in stolen property. 

Collier, who is currently on felony probation for burglary and grand theft, was charged with 15 counts of dealing in stolen property and 15 counts of fraud-false ownership information during pawn transaction for a previous case he was a suspect in.

Deputies say numerous felony charges related to this investigation for Collier are pending. 

Chaires, who is currently on felony probation for selling cocaine, was charged with three counts of dealing in stolen property. 

Deputies say the investigation is still ongoing at this time. 


SUWANNEE COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - One man is in custody after deputies searched his home for stolen guns and other items. 

The Suwannee County Sheriff's Office was at a home in the 900 block of Brown Street around noon on Thursday to serve a search warrant.

Sheriff Sam St. John says that there has been a string of car burglaries in the area. It is believed that the suspects in the burglaries were selling the stolen items to the residents of the home in exchange for drugs.

In the burglaries, several handguns were also reported as stolen. 

Based on the information, SCSO served a search warrant at the home to look for stolen guns and items. 

While deputies found some stolen property and small amount of drugs inside the home, the sheriff could not confirm whether any weapons were found.

"They've stole guns, they've stole GPS, they've stole different electrical items, electronic items and they have traded to these drug dealers for their drugs," said Sheriff St. John. "You know they don't have regular jobs, they don't have enough money, so they go out and steal from people in the community, people just like me and you, out every day and it affects the whole community." 

The raid is part of an ongoing investigation into the sale of cocaine that lead to six arrests Wednesday.

The Sheriff says more arrests are expected.

One arrest was made, though the man arrested has not yet been identified.