RAINIER VALLEY - What do road signs, WSDOT traffic cameras and telephone wire have in common? Combine them with 7 months of intensive investigative work and you get a criminal case resulting in the closure of a major metal recycling operation in South Seattle.
Everbright International, located at 9688 Martin Luther King Way South, first came to the attention of detectives during a routine inspection in September of 2006. Detectives verified that the business was purchasing metals without a used goods license (SMC 6.288.030A). This violation was remedied when the appropriate license was obtained.
For the next 5 months, Everbright International steadily grew in notoriety. Word on the street, backed by Seattle Police and King County Sheriff's Office Police reports, had Everbright pegged as a business where thieves could bring in their stolen metal, no questions asked.
In February, an undercover operation commenced to determine whether or not Everbright was operating in a lawful manner. The bait was property donated by perennial metal theft victims WSDOT, QWEST, and Puget Sound Energy.
On March 12, an undercover officer traveled to Everbright loaded up with two WSDOT cameras and scrap wire. The cameras are unique to WSDOT and are not available to the general public. The officer offered the property to an Everbright employee for the day's going rate for metal, and cash was given, not questions asked.
Later the same day, the UC returned with four more traffic cameras and several hundred feet of cable. The cameras were clearly marked with serial numbers and WSDOT tags. On this occasion, Everbright's owner assisted the UC with the transaction, and no questions were asked. The UC walked away with cash.
On March 14, the same UC returned to Everbright with a brand new spool of general cable and a WSDOT signal box. Both had State of Washington Property Redistribution tags clearly affixed. The UC noticed that the owner was careful to stash the spool of cable behind some large boxes. As in the previous transactions, cash was given.
On March 15, a different UC was utilized. The new officer brought in two spools of cable marked QWEST as well as a signal box bearing WSDOT stickers and tags. The owner's wife, Changqing Liu, handled the transaction. The property was taken to be recycled and payment was provided to the UC.
On April 2, a third UC participated in the investigation. This new UC arrived at Everbright with two spools of copper wire marked with Puget Sound Energy (PSE) labels; several WSDOT road signs and several pieces of QWEST insulated phone wires. This UC engaged the owner in conversation, explaining that he worked for WSDOT. The UC said he steals signs from work, and added that he could steal more if the owner was willing to buy them.
The owner said that he would and that the UC should get a truck to bring them in. When it came time to make the deal, the owner pointed at a folded piece of paper that said, "ID required for all transactions."
"Next time," said the UC, the owner's wife paid him, and the UC walked out the door.
The third UC returned on April 4 and 5 to exchange more WSDOT signs and PSE copper wire for cash.
With these facts on record, detectives arrested the owner's wife on April 10. She is awaiting booking into King County Jail for investigation of trafficking in stolen property.
The owner is currently in China. Detectives hope he will face charges, even in absentia. In the meantime, operations have ceased at Everbright International.
Seattle Police Media Relations brief
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