Seabright trial continues
By KATE SCHOTT kschott@daily-chronicle.com
SYCAMORE – The ex-fiancée of a man charged in a multistate theft ring testified Thursday that the man’s mother, who is on trial on theft charges in the same case, was aware of her son’s illegal activities.
Gail R. Mundo of Montgomery testified that Sandra Seabright, 68, of Leland, knew that her son, 48-year-old Mark Wright, was stealing items and then selling them, often through eBay.
Police said more than $200,000 in stolen vehicles and power tools were found in two storage lockers and on Seabright’s property, where Wright also lived. Seabright is on trial this week in DeKalb County court on charges of two counts of vehicle theft conspiracy and one count each of aggravated possession of a stolen vehicle and theft.
Mundo said she dated Wright from December 2006 until July 2007 and that he told her he sold items on eBay and traded stocks for a living. She said she went on “scouting” trips with Wright to look for items that could be stolen. She also testified that the items were stored at the house, that Seabright knew how they were acquired, and that she would sometimes package the items that were sold on eBay.
Mundo said she once called the house looking for Wright and spoke briefly with Seabright.
“She said, ‘I’m in the shipping department today,’ ” Mundo said.
Mundo also testified that she would sometimes take payments for stolen items that were sold and would then pass the money to Seabright. Wright didn’t have a bank account, Mundo said, so Seabright cashed all of his checks.
Under cross-examination, Mundo testified that she hopes to get an immunity deal with prosecutors in exchange for her testimony.
“It’s fair for me to assume that the better the information you give them, the better deal you will get?” defense attorney Fred Morelli asked her.
“It’s true information that I give them,” Mundo replied.
Mundo was arrested in June 2008 and charged with six felonies related to the theft ring. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is awaiting trial.
Mundo testified that Wright would tell her to put certain names on false documents for the vehicles and that sometimes it would be Seabright’s name. Mundo also testified that Seabright never told her to put her name on the documents.
Prosecutors rested their case Thursday, and defense attorneys are expected to call witnesses today when the trial resumes at 10:30 a.m.
Wright was indicted
Dec. 1 on 34 felony counts and has been held in the county jail on $2 million bond since last February. He is due in court for a routine hearing Feb. 18.
