By Luis Perez, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, October 23, 2010
ST. PETERSBURG — Sheriff's deputies brought additional charges Friday against the owner of a boat and yacht brokerage company and an accomplice in connection with a scheme to steal local boats and ship them overseas.
Mark A. Conner, 38, of Treasure Island, now faces 15 charges — including scheme to defraud, multiple counts of grand theft and multiple counts of possessing vehicles or trailers with altered identification numbers. He was being held at the Pinellas County Jail Saturday in lieu of $77,000 bail.
Lawrence P. Plumstead, 44, of Seminole, faces 11 charges, including multiple counts of grand theft and possessing a vehicle with an altered identification number. Plumstead was released early Saturday after posting $40,000 bond, jail records show.
Detectives said they arrested both men at a Pinellas Park storage lot Thursday as they were preparing several stolen boats for shipment to Australia.