Owner of Anniston recycling business charged

The owner of an Anniston recycling business has been charged with 10 felony counts of secondary metals recycling.  41 year old William T. Wegrzyn, of Wedowee, the owner of Red Hot Recycling in Anniston,   was charged after a previous case involving a Red Hot Recycling employee went before a grand jury.   Calhoun county Sheriff Larry Amerson said it was the grand jury’s opinion that Wegrzyn was present during the business transaction and saw what occurred. The employee, 32 year old Anthony Keith Cumbee, of Anniston, was charged April 23 with 10 felony counts of charges relating to required ownership documentation.  The arrest was made after Calhoun County authorities were contacted in April by police in LaGrange, Ga., about an investigation involving 600 catalytic converters, stolen from a Kia Manufacturing plant.  Authorities said the 600 converters reported stolen were valued at $250,000.  Through an investigation, deputies discovered that 10 transactions involving new catalytic converters took place at Red Hot Recycling on U.S. 78 in Anniston.  Records showed the suspect sold 1,054 catalytic converters to Red Hot Recycling, and was paid $50,000.  It is unlawful for secondary metal recyclers to purchase converters that are not part of a motor vehicle without documentation of proof of ownership. Cumbee did not receive proof of ownership for the parts he purchased.