Two Scioto County men suspected to be involved in an interstate theft ring have been arrested after federal and local authorities say they discovered $300,000 worth of stolen items in Minford.

Randy Fyffe, 40, of Kentucky Trail, Minford, and his brother, James Fyffe, 43, of Riddlebarger Road, Portsmouth, are charged with nine counts of receiving stolen property, fourth-degree felonies, and tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony.

According to Scioto County Sheriff Marty V. Donini, detectives from the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office, along with West Virginia FBI, had been working stolen property cases in several states.

Donini said his office received a call in March 2010 from FBI agents in West Virginia saying they had been working on an interstate theft ring that began in Lewis County, Ky. And after several were arrested in connection with those crimes, evidence led detectives to several locations in the Minford area where stolen items valued at $300,000 were recovered. Items included a wood chipper, a John Deere skid steer, a Komatsu mini excavator and a black industrial equipment trailer. Donini said detectives determine that Vehicle Identification Number plates had been tampered with.

He said detectives located two suspects and spoke with them regarding the stolen property, and were able to open a case in joint effort with West Virginia and Kentucky, which is ongoing. Detectives arrested both suspects on indictment warrants on Wednesday without incident.

The two men are being held without bond and will appear in Scioto County Common Pleas Court at a later date.

Donini said it is an ongoing investigation and more charges could follow. He asked anyone with information about the case to contact detective Denver Triggs at (740) 351-1093. All calls will remain anonymous.

FRANK LEWIS may be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 232, or flewis@heartlandpublications.com.