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Joseph D. Early Jr.

Fitchburg woman, Lancaster man indicted in organized retail theft operation

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A Lancaster man and Fitchburg woman have been indicted on charges related to leading an organized retail crime operation, Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. said Wednesday.

According to Early, 68-year-old John Duplease Jr., of Lancaster, and 43-year-old Penny Williams, of Fitchburg, were indicted by a Worcester County grand jury this week. Duplease was indicted on four counts including leader of organized retail theft enterprise, aggravated organized retail crime, organized retail crime and failure to secure a firearm. Williams was indicted for organized retail crime.

Duplease was arrested by Lancaster Police on May 8, 2021 after being investigated by Lancaster and Leominster police and Massachusetts State Police for more than a year. Authorities said Duplease had more than 20 individuals working with him to shoplift from local retail establishments. He allegedly stored the stolen items at his home in Lancaster and his business on Central Street in Leominster, before reselling them online.

Authorities said Williams worked for Duplease, receiving and paying for stolen property, in addition to shipping to resold merchandise.

Duplease and Williams were previously arraigned in Leominster District Court and were each released on $2,500 cash bail. Authorities said Duplease also faced charges in Clinton District Court.

The pair will be arraigned in Worcester Superior Court at a later date, where the indictment now moves the charges.

Shirley man charged in fatal Interstate 190 crash that killed Ayer teen

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LEOMINSTER — A Shirley man was arraigned in Leominster District Court on Tuesday in connection with a fatal October crash on Interstate 190 that killed a 16-year-old girl from Ayer.

According to statement from Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr., 19-year-old Christopher Filz was arraigned on charges of motor vehicle homicide by reckless operation, motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation, speeding and reckless operation of a motor vehicle.

Following the accident which occured on Oct. 6, State Police said troopers at the Leominster Barracks received calls about a single-vehicle rollover crash on Interstate 190 north in Leominster at approximately 7:10 p.m. The Mustang went off the highway, down an embankment and into the wood line, State Police said. Three passengers had to be extricated by the Leominster Fire Department.

According to Early’s statement, Filz was the driver of the Mustang. The passenger killed as a result of the crash was later identified as 16-year-old Krystal Mello of Ayer.

A 16-year-old girl from Shirley and an 16-year-old male from Bolton were also injured and taken to a Worcester hospital.

As part of the arraignment, Early said Filz was ordered not to drive and to stay away and have no contact with witnesses and family of the victim.

The case was continued to Jan. 5 and is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Anthony Melia.

The crash was investigated by Leominster Police, Massachusetts State Police troopers from the Leominster Barracks, the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, the State Police Crime Scene Services Section and the State Police detectives assigned to the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office.