Man nicknamed 'Willy Wonka' pleads guilty to crimes in R.I., elsewhere [View all]

SALEM, Mass. (AP) — The leader of a multistate ATM and vehicle burglary ring known as “Willy Wonka” or the “Chocolate Man” has pleaded guilty to 60 charges.

The Salem News reports that 47-year-old William “Willy Wonka” Rodriguez pleaded guilty Thursday to his role in crimes in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Connecticut that netted more than $300,000 in property and currency.

The Lawrence man was one of five people arrested in August during a police investigation dubbed Operation Golden Ticket.

Rodriguez remains jailed on $500,000 bail pending sentencing Nov. 7, where he faces up to 12 years in prison.

Read more: http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20181012/man-nicknamed-willy-wonka-pleads-guilty-to-crimes-in-ri-elsewhere