Two key witnesses

in a multi-state John Deere tractor theft ring that ended with some stolen

property sold in Fayette County have pleaded guilty to reduced charges

and begun serving their jail sentences.

Lewis Gilbert

Shirley of Fayetteville and Larry Franklin Whitaker of Griffin each pleaded

guilty last month to conspiracy to commit theft by taking of property

valued in excess of $500. Shirley was sentenced to five years in prison

followed by five years of probation while Whitaker was sentenced to six

years in prison followed by four years probation.

Both men were

given 30 days after the pleas were entered to turn themselves into the

Fayette County Jail.

Part of the

plea agreement requires both men to testify truthfully about the scheme.

District Attorney William McBroom confirmed they are expected to testify

in any criminal proceedings against the other defendants in the case.

Three other

men have been arrested in conjunction with the theft ring, which was broken

up by the Fayette County Sheriff's Department in September when stolen

equipment was discovered at American Twin Motorcycles in north Fayette

County.

Those men:

Kenneth Green, Bobby Green and Steve Richardson, are accused of violating

state racketeering laws in conducting the scheme, which involved the theft

and resale (at deep discounts) of John Deere equipment, including tractors.

Bail was originally set at $1.5 million for all three, but Richardson's

was later reduced to $250,000.