FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CONTACT: Lauren Horwood
March 1, 2012	PHONE: (916) 554-2706
www.usdoj.gov/usao/cae	usacae.edcapress@usdoj.gov
Docket #: 1:12-cr-00047-LJO-SKO

            FRESNO, Calif. — United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that Robin Neal Vanderheiden, aka Jeremy Wayne Patrick, 32, and Kody Estepp, 22, both of Modesto, were indicted today on charges of conspiring to steal federal property from the Modesto Airport.

            According to the indictment, in January 2012, Vanderheiden and Estepp broke into lighting towers around the Modesto Airport on several occasions and stole copper wire from the enclosed lighting systems. The copper wire stolen by the defendants is owned by the Federal Aviation Administration.

            This case is the result of an extensive investigation by the Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General and the Modesto Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Grant B. Rabenn is prosecuting the case.

            If convicted of the charges, Vanderheiden and Estepp face a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, if convicted, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

            The charges are only allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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