Several police agencies, including the FBI, were involved in helping solve two recent Chattanooga carjacking cases.
Authorities said a local woman and two male companions were stealing pickup trucks and selling them in Knoxville. The "buyer" in Knoxville turned out to be an undercover police officer.
An affidavit by FBI Agent James Melia says Sarah Richie was involved in the carjackings along with Stephan Fekete and Patrick Pitts.
Agent Melia said on Jan. 9 a black male wearing a hooded sweatshirt and a bandana entered a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck while it was parked in front of 2805 E. 37th St. Gilbert Miller had left the vehicle running with his 14-year-old grandson sitting in the front passenger seat.
The robber displayed a handgun and told the 14-year-old to get out of the truck. Then he drove off.
The next day, a black male wearing a hooded sweatshirt and a bandana entered a Ford F150 pickup truck at an apartment complex at 6220 Shallowford Road. Adam Hughes had just parked the pickup when he heard someone running toward him. A black male demanded that he "give him his ----." He said he did not understand, and the robber said he wanted the keys.
The robber then placed a handgun to the head of Mr. Hughes and cocked the gun. He snatched the keys, got in the truck and drove away.
The Bradley County Sheriff's Office got a description of the stolen pickup truck and stopped it on I-75 near Cleveland. The driver, Fekete, jumped out, but was captured after a chase.
Knoxville Police undercover agents said they bought the Dodge truck from Fekete for $500, and he was apparently on the way with the second truck when he was stopped. Also with Fekete when he sold the truck were Ms. Richie and the man Fekete identified as "The Black" - who Fekete said is Pitts.
The undercover agent said he was willing to purchase Ford and Chevy trucks. Fekete said he would supply the trucks, but asked that the buyer meet him in Sweetwater.
Fekete was interviewed at the Bradley County Jail on Jan. 11 and admitted that he and Pitts carjacked the Dodge truck on Jan. 9. He said he drove straight to Ms. Richie's apartment and she told him she had called "Big Daddy" in Knoxville. He said he and Pitts drove in the stolen truck and Ms. Richie and her toddler son drove to Knoxville in her vehicle. They returned to Chattanooga in the Richie vehicle, then dropped Pitts off at 17th and Willow.
Fekete said he, Ms. Richie and the toddler then drove around before spotting the truck on Shallowford.
Fekete said he was the one who put the gun to the head of Adam Hughes. He said he then drove toward Sweetwater. He pulled over at exit 20 on I-75 and Ms. Richie pulled in behind him. He said he sent Ms. Richie into a store to buy cigarettes and placed the gun in a bag in her vehicle. He said it was a Lorcini .380-caliber pistol. He said he held the gun in the second carjacking, and Pitts had the gun in the first one.
Fekete told of being stopped by police a short time after getting back on I-75.
Fekete agreed to help the FBI and made three recorded calls to Ms. Richie, telling her to take the gun and give it to a black male she would meet at the Golden Gallon in East Ridge. Hamilton County Det. Van Hinton, working undercover, got the gun from Ms. Richie, and she told him about being behind Fekete when he was stopped by police. That conversation was recorded.
Agent Melia said he interviewed Ms. Richie the next day at her residence and she admitted to being involved in the carjackings. Ms. Richie formerly lived in Knoxville.