Man sentenced to 25 years for copper theft

POLK COUNTY – A man was sentenced to 25 years in prison as a habitual offender for engaging in organized criminal activity, which involved stealing and selling copper materials, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

Raymond Leroy Smelley Jr. was booked on Nov. 14, 2024, and was charged with engaging in organized criminal activity, theft of material less that $30,000, and theft of property between $2,500 and $30,000.

The evidence presented to the jury proved Smelley and others stole telecommunication wire from Highline before selling the copper material for profit, the DA’s office said.

Copper and other material theft cases have the potential to disrupt services such as phone lines, critical medical devices and access to news outlets for Polk County residents.

After being found guilty, Smelley was sentenced to 25 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice as a habitual offender on July 16.

“The Polk County Sheriff’s Office assisted in providing the evidence and support necessary for the prosecution of this case,” the DA’s office said. “Thanks to their diligent work and thorough investigation, the District Attorney’s Office was able to prosecute this case fully. The District Attorney’s Office is thankful for our law enforcement’s continued hard work and cooperation as these cases move forward.”