UTAH COUNTY, Utah — Two Utah men have been arrested in connection with the theft of more than $12,000 worth of copper wire, according to law enforcement.
Russell Swensen, 28, and Oscar Armando Martinez-Faudoa, 42, were booked into Utah County Jail on multiple charges. Both face charges of theft, transfer of a stolen vehicle, and failure to wear a seatbelt. Swensen was additionally charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and driving with a suspended license.
According to court documents, officers were alerted Monday morning about a potential copper wire theft. A truck traveling southbound on University Avenue was observed making unsafe lane changes, prompting an officer to initiate a traffic stop. Swensen was identified as the driver, with Martinez-Faudoa as a passenger. The vehicle was not registered to Swensen, whose license was suspended.
During questioning, Swensen claimed the copper wire had been picked up from a man named Cooper, who could not be contacted. He stated he and Martinez-Faudoa were delivering the wire to Cooper. Martinez-Faudoa, however, said he had only known Swensen for about a month and a half and that the wire was already in the vehicle when he was picked up.
Union Pacific Railroad later confirmed that the copper wire, valued at $12,000, had been stolen from their property. Officers also discovered an additional $4,000 worth of cut copper and a glass marijuana pipe in the truck bed.
Swensen and Martinez-Faudoa remain in Utah County Jail without bail as the investigation continues.
