NICK BERES
MT. JULIET, Tenn. -- An alert Mt. Juliet merchant helped police and
federal agents catch a fugitive wanted in connection with a nationwide crime spree,
one with a possible connection to Hurricane Sandy survivors in the northeast.
"Oh Lord yes. Yeah, I'm tickled to death they finally got him. It feels
good to finally get somebody," said Josh Miller of Tri Green Equipment
Supply.
Honda had alerted dealers across the country that a group was passing bad
checks to buy generators. Miller noticed the description and called
authorities when Jason Quintanilla walked into his store.
Surveillance video shows police and federal agents converging on Quintanilla
moments after he made the purchase of the generators.
"It was crazy like a scene right out of cops. They jumped out
with guns drawn and arrested the fellas," said Miller.
Quintanilla is accused of using fake checks to purchase thousands of dollars'
worth of high-end generators. The theory is that Quintanilla and accomplices,
who remain at large, would then sell the high-end equipment, especially
targeting the northeast and Hurricane Sandy storm survivors.
"With the demand up there, that's probably where some of them were
going," said Miller who talked with investigators.
Many in the northeast remain without power. Now storm victims who
unknowingly bought stolen generators could have them taken away and be out the
money they paid for them too.
"Yeah, pretty low ... taking advantage of somebody in a down
situation," said Miller.
Quintanilla is charged with fraud, theft of property and possession of drug
paraphernalia. Authorities are quite certain he did not work alone, and so more
arrests are expected.
