A 73 year old Etowah County man is being sought by authorities – for allegedly conducting a huge “fencing” operation apparently dealing in thousands of dollars worth of stolen items

Investigators in the Property Crimes Division found the stolen merchandise throughout the Grant Avenue home in East Gadsden where the operation had set up its headquarters.

Police have already secured drug trafficking warrants for Joe Pearl – with several property crimes charges likely to follow.

Prescription pills were found in the home along with stolen property – ranging from electronics and car stereo equipment to clothing to tires and tools – virtually anything you can imagine.

Some merchandise is believed to have come from burglaries dating as far back as 2007.

Pearl is currently at large and is believed to be in Georgia; authorities state that rather than charging him with several hundred misdemeanor counts of receiving stolen property, they will likely charge him with a single felony count for receiving stolen property first degree.

Anyone wishing to see if any of the recovered property was stolen from them – can call the Property Crimes Division at (256) 549-4624.

(al.com/www.al.com)