Today (Mar 20) Timothy Vincent KERSTETTER (37) of 1159 Bailey Ct. Rockledge, pled guilty as charged to 41 counts including RICO (F1), Organized Fraud (F3), Grand Theft (F3), Dealing in Stolen Property (F2), Giving False Information of Ownership to Pawnbroker (F3), and Petit Theft (M1). KERSTETTER offered to plea after two co-defendants agreed to testify against him.

KERSTETTER was sentenced to 57.075 months (approx 4.75 years) in the Department of Corrections, followed by 5 years drug offender probation and $8406.51 in restitution to Home Depot. Should KERSTETTER violate probation, he will qualify under the Anti-Murder Act (due to a prior Aggravated Assault) and will be facing a new minimum 111.375 months DOC (approx 9.3 years) with a maximum of 305 years DOC.  (See Plea Agreement)
 
On July 25th, 2018 the West Melbourne Police Department arrested KERSTETTER, Elise BIANCO (28), and Kate VICKERS (41) in connection with a series of thefts targeting Home Depot stores in Brevard and Indian River Counties. Police identified a total of 21 incidents where the group had taken items from the shelves and placed them in their carts. Those items were then offered as returns at the store and the group given gift cards as a refund. Those gift cards were then used to buy power tools that were later pawned for cash.

On February 12, 2019 VICKERS Pled to 2 counts of Grand Theft (F3) and sentenced to 4 years drug offender probation, anti-theft class, 50 hours of community service and $946 in court and other costs.

On February 21, 2019 BIANCO pled to one (1) count of Organized Fraud (F3), 16 counts of Grand Theft (F3), 3 counts of Petit Theft (M1), 1 count of Dealing in Stolen Property (F2), and1 count of Giving False Information to Pawnbrooker. She was adjudicated guilty then sentenced to 20.550 months DOC, 5 years drug offender probation and ordered to pay $1495 in court and other costs.

A fourth defendant, Angela HALL (35) was arrested September 6, 2018 in connection with the crimes and is still awaiting trial.

Todd Brown
Public Information &
Communications
(321) 617-7310

Office of the State Attorney
18th Judicial Circuit
2725 Judge Fran Jamieson
Way Building D
Viera, Fl. 32940