Steve Nichols, 57, of Fort Lauderdale, will serve 2½ to 20 years in state prison for leading a father-son burglary ring that hit homes in Butler, Erie, Indiana, Lackawanna, and Westmoreland counties, state investigators say.
Nichols and his son, Archie Marino, allegedly pulled off a string of distraction-style break-ins, targeting elderly residents—some in their 80s—who were home alone during the crimes, court documents show.
Father-Son Burglary Duo Posed As Workers, Robbed Homes
Investigators say Nichols posed as a worker and lured victims outside, while Marino went inside and looted the home—stealing cash, rare coins, and heirloom jewelry.
“This defendant was the engineer of this criminal conduct, intentionally targeting older Pennsylvanians because he felt they were more vulnerable to be duped,” AG Sunday said. “My office is committed to holding fully accountable those who threaten the sanctity of our homes.”…