Two men were arrested this week in connectio with theft of property from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife management Areas, the GBI announced.
On Monday, Parker Lewis Dean, 20, of Braselton, was arrested in Barrow County, and on Wednesday, James Arthur Graham, 22, of Lawrenceville, was arrested in Gwinnett County both on charges of theft by receiving stolen property.
The GBI reports the two "went on a burglary spree together targeting the wildlife management areas from May 2019 through September 2019."
The GBI Cleveland Office was originally requested to conduct the investigation into burglaries at Stephens County, Dawson County and Lumpkin County WMAs in June. As the investigation evolved, it was determined that additional burglaries occurred, both before the GBI investigation and during the investigation, in Hart, Putnam, Burke, Greene, McDuffie, Bartow, Marion and Dooly Counties.
The suspects are believed to be responsible for a burglary at the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge, according to the GBI. The similarities between the burglaries led investigators to believe the same people were responsible for the burglaries identified in the investigation.
Approximately $50,000 worth of equipment was allegedly stolen during the burglaries, but the majority of the items have been recovered.
The GBI Cleveland Office worked with the DNR Law Enforcement Division to conduct this statewide investigation. The GBI Athens, Thompson, and Americus Offices and local law enforcement partners aided the investigation as well.
Graham was arrested and booked at the Gwinnett County Jail and Dean was arrested and booked at the Barrow County Jail. The Georgia Attorney General's Office will take over once the investigation is completed, and additional charges for both suspects are expected.