NORWICH – The last member in a band of copper thieves responsible for leading state police and two sheriff’s officers on an extensive investigation across Chenango and Madison counties, received the longest sentence of the four men in the case.

Jerry W. Armondi Jr., 21, of Norwich, pleaded guilty to two counts of third degree burglary and was sentenced to one and a half years to four and a half years on each charge, Sept. 30. The time will run consecutively for a combined sentence of three to nine years in state prison.

Armondi and his three co-defendants were arrested Dec. 23, 2007 and charged with numerous felonies and misdemeanors.

The four men were responsible for a rash of burglaries targeting commercial establishments that took place over the late fall and early winter months of the same year. The crimes targeted copper items such as fittings, piping and wire.

According to the police investigation, Armondi broke into one location and stole two large spools of copper wiring. Unable to transport them, police said he left the wire out in front of the building and returned the next day to pick it up. Discovering that the two spools had again been moved and locked up, he broke into the building a second time to remove the wire.