Jeffrey Gundlach's $10 Mil Art Theft Case Sees Charges For Darren Agee Merager
Prosecutors have charged the man they say was the break-in artist behind that amazing, $10 million theft of Santa Monica investor Jeffrey Gundlach's A-list art collection.
SMPD
It was Darren Agee Merager, 43, who dunnit, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office said today.
But they claim he couldn't have done it alone:
Six defendants were charged in total, including, says a D.A.'s statement ...
Merager's 68-year-old mother, Brenda Joyce Merager, and two brothers, 29-year-old Wanis George Wahba and his 26-year-old brother, Ely George Wahba. The three allegedly tried to sell and conceal the stolen items. In addition, Wilmer Bolosan Cadiz, 40, is charged with conspiracy and receiving stolen items.
Oh, and don't forget Jay Jeffrey Nieto, 45. Authorities say that he inspired Merager to go back to the Gundlach home a second time and take his Porsche Carrera 4S.
Prosecutors also say Nieto helped hide the loot (the case unraveled when, authorities said, some of the goods were found at a Pasadena car-stereo shop where Nieto worked).
Merager, authorities say, has a long rap sheet and could see 9 years behind bars if convicted.
The defendants face charges of "first-degree residential burglary, conspiracy and receiving stolen property," says the D.A.'s office.
Prosecutors said $10 million bail for each suspect would be recommended. Now that's a familiar number.
[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]
Email to Friend
Write to Editor
Print Article
