By PAUL STONE

H-P Associate Editor

Seven Palestine men are in custody on the charge of engaging in organized criminal activity as a result of a trio of recent burglaries, including two in which the perpetrators allegedly tried to cover up by setting the structures on fire.

On Friday afternoon, Anderson County Sheriff Greg Taylor said the following people were arrested between Sunday and Thursday and charged with the felony offense:

* Jamie Tyrone Walker Thomas, 22, of Palestine

* Deven Kristopher Lammert, 18, of Palestine

* Brandon Lee Lively, 22, of Palestine

* Brandon Paul Nelms, 30, of Palestine

* Crystal Nicole Pilbro, 26, of Palestine

* Brenda Allen Smith, 29, of Palestine

* and Robert Morin Torres, 34, of Palestine.

All are being held at the Anderson County Jail in lieu of a $100,000 bond set by Anderson County Justice of the Peace James Todd on the charge of engaging in organized criminal activity.

Thomas also is being held on unrelated charges of burglary of a building; burglary of a habitation; unauthorized use of a motor vehicle; forgery of a financial instrument; and credit card abuse, according to the sheriff.

Taylor said the engaging charge stems from a trio of recent burglaries committed over the past three weeks in Anderson County — two of which allegedly occurred in the Tennessee Colony area and the other on CR 2202, also known as Salt Works Road.

In the Tennessee Colony burglaries, authorities say the suspects attempted to cover up the break-ins by setting the mobile homes on fire.

Taylor said arson charges will likely be filed in the future against "at least" two of the suspects.

The third burglary occurred on the afternoon of Aug. 3 on CR 2202, authorities have said.

A total of roughly $8,000 worth of property was stolen in the burglaries, the sheriff stated.

“The stolen property varied from TVs, guns, hunting equipment, electronics, jewelry, checks and credit cards,” Taylor said.

Anderson County sheriff’s Sgt. Jay Russell and Sgt. Ronnie Foster are the lead investigators in the case.

“This is a big, big case and they've done a great job running down these leads,” the sheriff stated.

Taylor also lauded patrol officers with the Palestine Police Department for their efforts in helping arrest the suspects.

The sheriff said a search warrant related to the case was executed Wednesday at a residence on McClellan Street in Palestine.

“We did recover stolen property and evidence of the crimes, as well as 1.1 grams of powder cocaine,” including packaging, Taylor said about the search warrant.

The sheriff said all seven suspects did not necessarily actively participate in the burglaries, but added, “They all did use or receive the proceeds of the crimes. Some of them were active participants in these break-ins in the city and the county.”

Roughly $2,000 of the stolen items have been recovered, including electronics; camcorders; DVDs; and jewelry, according to the sheriff.

“All of the property recovered so far has been identified by its owner,” Taylor said.

The sheriff reiterated the importance of citizens recording serial numbers off of their property.

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Paul Stone may be contacted via e-mail at pstone@palestineherald.com