‘More than two dozen offenses’: Man committed audacious string of diamond ring thefts from Walmart Supercenter

A Pennsylvania man’s longtime “thievery” has been punished with a important stint successful prison, according to Keystone State authorities.

Matthew Patrick Gay, 34, was precocious convicted connected aggregate offenses related to a drawstring of diamond thefts that occurred astatine a Walmart Supercenter adjacent Athens Township — a tiny assemblage on the New York State borderline — passim 2022, according to a press release issued by the Bradford County District Attorney’s Office.

In sum, the suspect stole 7 diamond rings — valued astatine $7,362.50 — from the aforesaid store connected respective abstracted occasions.

This was not, however, the archetypal clip Gay was convicted.

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After his apprehension successful October 2022, the suspect was recovered blameworthy and slated to beryllium sentenced successful August 2024, according to the prosecutor’s office. But Gay did not be his sentencing hearing; instead, helium fled the county, and a warrant was yet issued for his arrest.

“While connected the run, Gay committed akin offenses successful Berks County,” the property merchandise says — a region located immoderate 130 miles southbound — starring to a condemnation of 5 to 24 months down bars, positive 2 years of probation.

In April 2025, the suspect made his mode backmost to Bradford County, wherever helium past faced charges of retail theft and default successful required quality — the 2nd complaint owed to skipping his archetypal sentencing date. Both of those charges are considered felonies successful the 3rd degree.

In the contiguous case, Gay was caught connected surveillance footage asking a clerk down the jewelry antagonistic to presumption a peculiar ring, according to the prosecutor’s office. Then, erstwhile the worker was distracted, Gay switched retired the stolen ringing with a ringing from his pocket.

At 1 point, the suspect was charged with expansive larceny successful the Empire State “for doing the aforesaid thing,” according to the prosecutor’s office. But those charges were yet dropped.

Gay was yet sentenced to a minimum of 23 months and 258 days successful authorities prison, with a maximum condemnation of 95 months.

More Law&Crime coverage: ‘Ingenuity got you immoderate region crockery for dinner’: Man utilized rigged barcode ringing to rob Walmart ‘several’ times, constabulary say

“Gay’s transgression past includes much than 2 twelve offenses of this nature,” Bradford County District Attorney Richard Wilson said successful a statement. “For that reason, a lengthy authorities situation condemnation is appropriate. It appears to beryllium the lone mode we tin support nine from Matthew Gay’s thievery,”