Stephan James Evanovich, a 46-year-old resident of Placerville, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport stolen property and interstate transportation of stolen property, according to U.S. Attorney Eric Grant.
Court documents indicate that Evanovich collaborated with Trevor Fountain, Jonathan Matthew Curl, and Andrea Carter in stealing rectifiers and other communications equipment from communications towers. Rectifiers are used as power sources for these towers. Fountain, Carter, and Curl were responsible for stealing the equipment and transferring it to Evanovich. He then paid them for the stolen items and sold the property to third-party vendors in California, Illinois, Colorado, and Texas. The group is reported to have stolen, sold, and shipped more than 485 rectifiers across state lines.
As part of their operation, Evanovich instructed others involved in the scheme to create invoices using false business names. These fake invoices made it appear that the rectifiers had been obtained from legitimate businesses.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation with support from the Weld County Sheriff’s Office in Colorado. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Delaney and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nchekube Onyima are prosecuting the case.
Andrea Carter previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced on June 5, 2025, receiving a 29-month prison term. Trevor Fountain pleaded guilty on September 25, 2025; his sentencing is set for May 21, 2026. Jonathan Matthew Curl pleaded guilty on January 8, 2026; his sentencing is scheduled for April 23, 2026.
Evanovich is expected to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta on June 11, 2026. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Fountain and Curl each face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentences will ultimately be determined by the court based on statutory factors and federal Sentencing Guidelines.
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