FAYETTEVILLE : Guilty plea entered in Tyson theft
Posted on Wednesday, October 15, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/240317/
FAYETTEVILLE — A Fayetteville man pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to stealing $ 45, 000 from the home of Tyson Foods Chairman John Tyson. Ryan Matthew Silvey, 19, pleaded guilty to a charge of transporting more than $ 5, 000 across state lines for his role in a theft of more than $ 140, 000 during a party thrown by Tyson’s daughter.
Silvey remains free on $ 2, 500 bond despite having violated the terms of his release by being arrested for driving while intoxicated, according to court records. He was allowed to remain out of jail as long as he attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Judge Jimm Hendren warned Silvey against getting into further trouble before his sentencing and told him that alcoholism is no defense for drunken driving. He said there will be consequences for breaking the law. “It’s not a mea culpa to go to Alcoholics Anonymous,” Hendren said. “You’re not going to be excused by saying, ‘ I have an alcohol problem. ’”
Assistant U. S. Attorney Clay Fowlkes did not oppose allowing Silvey to remain out on bond. Fowlkes said Silvey reported the arrest as soon as possible. Silvey will be sentenced by Hendren in the next 60 to 90 days. Authorities recovered $ 30, 000 from Silvey, Fowlkes said.
Johnson police issued arrest warrants for Silvey and two others in February. Silvey was arrested by the FBI Fugitive Task Force in Olathe, Kan. Silvey is the only suspect in the Dec. 27 theft that’s been convicted. Police also arrested Logan Lorenz, 24, in connection with the case. He was charged with theft by receiving, but there was not enough evidence to prosecute him, said Terra Stephenson, deputy prosecuting attorney. Stephenson said that the person believed to have given Lorenz some of the stolen money, Bryce Kelly Anderson, has not been found. Anderson, 20, has been listed as one of Washington County’s most wanted fugitives. Anderson traveled to Gulf Shores, Ala., Fort Walton Beach, Fla., and Pensacola, Fla., in January, according to the sheriff’s office Web site.
To contact this reporter: awallworth@arkansasonline. com