Categories: U.S.

Eleven ‘cranker colony’ suspects charged after allegedly pilfering Florida home of deployed Air Force member

close Video

Eleven people charged in alleged break-in at deployed airman’s Florida home

The 11 suspects lived in a so-called ‘cranker colony,’ Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. (Polk County Sheriff’s Office)

Eleven so-called “crankers” have been charged with burglarizing and ransacking the vacant Florida home of a member of the Air Force deployed 2,000 miles away, authorities said. 

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced an online fundraiser for the airman, who is stationed in North Dakota. The saga began when the airman, who provides strategic intelligence analysis to support the nuclear deterrence mission of the base, called the sheriff’s office March 16 after he noticed a spike in the electric bill at his home. 

He requested authorities check the property. 

Mugshots of 11 people charged with pilfering the Florida home of an airman.  (Polk County Sheriff’s Office)

“If you’ve never seen a cranker colony, now you have,” Judd said in a video message while holding the mugshots of all 11 suspects. “They weren’t just breaking into the house. They devastated the house. They gutted the house.”

Judd said the suspects took everything out of the house. He showed images of garbage and random items on a lawn. The suspects lived in a shed near the home where they stole electricity, Judd said. 

The suspects were identified as Brindy Matos, 39; Anthony Maddox, Jr., 31; Dana Pereira, 46; Michael Stone, 38; Johnathan Smith, 21; Beverly Reese, 44; Dwayne Harris, 46; Austin Shirah, 33; Angelea Keene, 53; Troy Bumlens, 41; and 25-year-old Kayla Strickland. 

An image of a lawn from the Florida home of a deployed airman.  (Polk County Sheriff’s Office)

All are charged with multiple offenses ranging from drug possession to keeping a public nuisance structure for drug use. When deputies arrived at the home, Maddox fled and left Matos, who is seven months pregnant with his child, Judd said. 

Matos and Maddox are additionally charged with burglary and trespassing, among other crimes. 

“They all lived together in a compound, in a colony, and they started pilfering this house,” the sheriff said. 

An image shows garbage and items belonging to a deployed airman outside his Florida home. (Polk County Sheriff’s Office)

The airman said the home was no longer habitable. 

“Our memories and photographs were scattered, ripped, torn and ruined from the criminals that had broken in and decided to squat on the property,” he wrote. “Graffiti and profanity was spray-painted on the walls and doors of the home, appliances stolen and the walls ripped apart only to assume the criminals were looking for things to sell. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“I am headed back to continue my duty at Minot AFB and comfort my grieving mother after this tremendous loss that we were not expecting.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to the airman.

Louis Casiano is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to louis.casiano@fox.com.

Share

Recent Posts

Wisconsin Supreme Court rejects Democrat AG’s attempt to block Elon Musk’s $1M giveaway to voters

The Wisconsin Supreme Court unanimously decided not to hear a last-minute attempt by the state…

1 hour ago

Kite reportedly makes contact with United flight attempting to land at Reagan National Airport

close Video Commercial pilot and licensed psychotherapist shares words of encouragement after recent plane crashes…

3 hours ago

Trump announces plan to chop down magnolia tree purportedly planted by Andrew Jackson: ‘Must come to an end’

President Donald Trump announced plans to chop down a tree that was said to have…

3 hours ago

Trump teases running for a third term: ‘Not joking’

President Donald Trump teased he might run for a third term, explaining to NBC News…

5 hours ago

Energy chief envisions US nuclear renaissance: restoring ‘pit’ production, localizing nuke power

WASHINGTON – In a wide-ranging interview last week, Energy Secretary Chris Wright discussed how the…

5 hours ago

Tesla hypocrisy: Dems continue investing in Elon Musk company despite painting him as villain

As the spate of violent attacks, vandalism and doxxings against Tesla owners and workers continues,…

8 hours ago