Cops, Courts & Fire -Bensalem Township
‘Get Money Squad’ Gets Charged, Jailed for Stealing Verizon Wires
Updated: October 28 2023: 4 pm
The last suspect accused of being part of the “Get Money Squad” was taken into custody by Police on Wednesday. Kimberly A Mayger, W/F, 52 years old Bristol Oxford Valley Road Levittown, Pa was sent to Bucks County Correctional Facility. Judge Wagener processed and arraigned her setting bail at 10 percent of $500,000
Original Story is Below
Nine people were charged with stealing Verizon wires from utility poles throughout Bucks County and selling it at as scrap, costing the utility company more than $250,000 to replace.
The evidence, investigators say, shows some of those charged even posed as members of a search party looking for children swept away during the deadly July flash flooding in Lower Makefield Township, just so they could steal more wire.
Lower Makefield Cuttin Site Credit: Bucks Co DA’s office
“The joint investigation found the group took advantage of the tragedy because of the size of the wire in that location and because they knew law enforcement would be overwhelmed with rescue efforts.
The investigation was launched in July according to court records and involved:
- 11 Wire Burn Sites
- Five Cutting Sites,
- Two confidential informants
- $250,000 in Verizon losses due to wire cutting not including customer losses and Impacts
- Nine suspects, eight charged and jailed
- Six Bucks County Law Enforcement agencies— Bucks County District Attorney’s Office Drug Strike Force and the Bristol Township Police Department, with assistance from the Bensalem Township Police Department, Bucks County Sheriff’s Office, Upper Makefield Police Department, and the Falls Township Police Department.
On Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, eight of the nine defendants were arrested for a variety of crimes that include corrupt organizations, criminal conspiracy, theft, receiving stolen property, theft of metal, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, criminal mischief, criminal use of a communication facility and disruption of service. Police continue to search for the ninth suspect.
Those charged are: Ryan Jeffrey Potts, 33, of Bensalem;
Marianna Harkins, 36, of Bristol Township;
Marianna Harkins
Michael John Cronon, 39, of Bristol Township;
Paige Eiseman, 33, of Bristol Township;
Frederick E. Lee Sr., 64, of Bristol;
Richard Machen, 43, of Bristol;
Nicholas Palmer, 27, of Bristol Township;
and Raymond Gerald Paul Jr., 38, of Doylestown.
Members of the organization were arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Michael Petrucci who remanded them to the Bucks County Correctional Facility.
Potts and Harkins were sent to BCCF under $600,000 bail, 10 percent, and the others under $500,000 bail, 10 percent.
Investigators are asking for the community’s assistance in locating the ninth member of the organization, Kimberly Ann Mayger, 52, of Bristol.
According to the criminal court filings members of the theft ring would case locations throughout Bucks County, climb utility poles and lop off the wires, the investigation found. They would then remove the wires’ protective layers by burning off the plastic coating before selling the copper to a scrap yard. The crimes not only deprived Verizon of property, but also deprived crucial utility service to Verizon customers, including, but not limited to, access to 911. In addition to the theft charges, Potts was also charged with soliciting someone to straw purchase a firearm for him. Potts is not legally permitted to possess a firearm in Pennsylvania.
Click here to read the investigative documents and probable cause filing
Jefferson Ave in Bristol Borough where wires were cut by members of the “Get Money” theft organization Credit: Bucks Co DA’s office
Cops, Courts & Fire -Bensalem Township
Cops: Motorist Driving “Erratically” on Street Rd Arrested for Fleeing, DUI
A early morning Tuesday fire in Bensalem took the life of one woman and firefighters were able to rescue a man, community sources told Lower Bucks Source.
Bensalem fire companies were dispatched for the reports of a dwelling fire in the 2900 of Bellview Drive at around 2:45 a.m with possible entrapment.
Police officers on scene reported two residents were unaccounted for and believed to be inside. Fire crews initiated an aggressive quick search and attack of the fire, where a male was immediately located by the doorway, Bensalem Volunteer Fire Department, officials said.
The woman killed in the fire was located shortly thereafter, fire officials said.
Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the home, officials said.
An on scene witness said they saw a man was taken to the hospital by Bensalem EMS. His condition is unknown as of publication time.
The identity of the woman killed in the blaze has not been released
The fire caused the closure of Bellview Dr, from Morrow Drive to the entrance of Faust Elementary for several hours.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation of the fire marshal’s office.
“The thoughts and prayers of our entire department go out to the family and friends of those affected by this tragedy. It’s a sad day for our Nottingham Village families” said Bensalem Volunteer Fire Dept officials.
Cops
Emergency Crews Prepare for Incoming Blizzard as Lower Bucks Municipalities Declare Storm Plans
Lower Bucks municipalities have declared disaster/snow emergencies in advance of the expected snow storm that the National Weather Service says will dump anywhere between 14 to 18 inches on the area.
A winter storm warning is still in effect from Sunday, Feb 22 to Monday, Feb 23.
Each municipality has its own link. For more information and updates, please click on their associated link.
Bensalem Township – Disaster Emergency declared immediately for the pending snow storm. Click here to see more details.
Bristol Borough – Snow information/requirements have been posted on their website. Click here to see the details.
Bristol Township – Snow Emergency effective 12 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026 through 12 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. Click here to see more details.
Falls Township – Snow Emergency starts Sunday, Feb. 22 at 6 p.m. and expires on Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 6 a.m. Click here for details.
Langhorne Borough – Snow Emergency starts Sunday, Feb. 22 at noon until Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. No parking. Click here for details.
Lower Makefield Township – Snow information has been posted on Meta. Click here to see the details.
Middletown Township – Snow Emergency is in effect from Sunday, Feb. 22 at 12 p.m. to Monday, Feb. 23 at 12 p.m. . Click here to see details.
Morrisville Borough – Snow Emergency is in effect from Sunday, Feb. 22 at 5 p.m. to Monday, Feb. 23 at 5 p.m. Click here to see the details.
Newtown Township – A Snow Emergency is in effect from 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026 until 4 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. Click here to see the details.
Penndel Borough – Snow Emergency has been declared from 12 p.m. on Sunday, February 22, 2026, through 12 p.m. on Monday, February 23, 2026. Click here for more details and click here for more on the ordinance.
Tullytown Borough – Snow Emergency proclamation in effect from Sunday Feb. 22 – 6 p.m. to Monday Feb. 23 – 6 p.m. Click here to see more details.
Warminster Township – Disaster Emergency has been declared for the incoming snow storm, effective Sunday Feb. 22, 2026 at 12 p.m. through Tuesday, Feb. 24,2026 at 12 p.m.. Click here to see the details and click here to see the declaration from Township Manager Tom Scott.
Yardley Borough – Snow Emergency proclamation in effect from Sunday Feb. 22 – 4 p.m. to Monday Feb. 23 – 4 p.m. . Click here to see the details. and click here to see declaration/other information from Mayor Caroline Thompson.
The primary concern is safety. Take care of yourselves and check on neighbors and those who may be vulnerable.
Please stay safe, take all necessary precautions, and keep your devices charged.
Click here for updates from the National Weather Service
Click here for PECO’s outage map.
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