MULTI-COUNTY THEFT RING BUSTED
Posted by Monroe County Sheriff Tommy Jones:
On January 19, 2026, at approximately 2:30 p.m., the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a theft of construction materials in the Vonore area. The initial report was turned over to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division (CID) for follow-up.
Through a joint investigation conducted by Monroe County Sheriff’s Office CID and detectives from the Vonore Police Department and Madisonville Police Department, the detectives developed suspects connected to a series of thefts. Interviews and evidence revealed that on the nights of January 18th, 19th, and 20th, several individuals allegedly entered a home under construction and stole construction materials.
Homeowners provided photographs of the suspects and their vehicles. Through thorough investigative work, detectives were able to identify the vehicle owners and positively identify the suspects involved.
As the investigation continued, it was determined that some of these same suspects were also allegedly involved in the theft of a trailer from the city of Vonore.
Members of the 10th Judicial Drug Task Force from Monroe County joined the investigation and detectives continued working
the case, which ultimately led them into McMinn County.
A search warrant was executed in McMinn County, where detectives successfully recovered numerous items reported stolen from Monroe County, McMinn County, and Meigs County. In addition to the stolen property, narcotics and weapons were also located. At the same location, investigators recovered the stolen trailer from Vonore as well as a separate trailer stolen from Monroe County.
At this time:
- ● One suspect has been charged by the Vonore Police Department
- ● Two suspects are being charged by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office
- ● One suspect has been charged by the Tenth Judicial Drug Task Force, arrested, and transported to the McMinn County Jail
This investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges may be forthcoming.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office would like to commend and thank all agencies involved for their dedication, teamwork, and commitment to bringing this criminal activity to an end and holding those responsible accountable. This case is a strong example of how collaboration across jurisdictions helps keep our communities safe.
