Stolen Generator from Verizon Recovered

Jacksonville man nabbed in theft of generator

Jan. 21–PALESTINE — A 29-year-old Jacksonville man wanted for the theft of a nearly 1-ton generator in Anderson County in November has been arrested by Cherokee County authorities.

Jeremy Ray Jones, 29, of Jacksonville was arrested Tuesday by Cherokee County authorities on the felony charge of engaging in organized criminal activity/theft $1,500-to-$20,000, according to Anderson County Sheriff Greg Taylor.

Jones was released from the Cherokee County Jail in Rusk the same day after posting a $75,000 pre-set bond set by Anderson County Justice of the Peace James Todd.

Jones is one of four Jacksonville men charged in connection with the Thanksgiving theft of a 1,600-pound generator from a Verizon Wireless cell phone tower site off of U.S. 79 near the Neches cutoff.

Three other suspects wanted on the same charge had not been arrested as of late Wednesday afternoon, including Geoffrey Shaye Bush, 20, Mario Ramirez Trujillo, 49, and Alejandro H. Rodriguez, 43, all of Jacksonville.

Anderson County authorities have said they believe Jones and Bush stole the generator on or about Nov. 25 and later sold it to Trujillo and Rodriguez for $8,000.

The 50,000-watt generator valued at $15,000 has been recovered and returned to Verizon officials, according to Taylor.