SOUTH CAROLINA — Five people have been charged in connection with a series of wire thefts that caused widespread internet and phone outages across Buncombe County, according to authorities.
Detectives said the investigation began in December 2025 after multiple outages were reported in different parts of the county. Officials determined the disruptions were linked to stolen telecommunications wire.
Investigators worked with AT&T and discovered several burn and wire-stripping sites in the Swannanoa and Leicester communities. Authorities said hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of wire had been cut and taken.
Deputies allege the suspects were involved in cutting, stripping and selling the stolen wire.
Those charged include Travis Warren Glenn, Justin Bryant Banks, Sheron Nicole Nelon, Joseph Clay Bryant and Kevin Micheal Fox.
The investigation remains ongoing.
