A 46-year-old Placerville resident has pleaded guilty in federal court to his role in a multi-state conspiracy involving the theft and resale of critical communications equipment taken from tower sites across California and beyond.
Stephan James Evanovich entered a guilty plea Thursday, March 5, in the Eastern District of California, admitting to conspiracy to transport stolen property and interstate transportation of stolen property, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California.
Prosecutors say Evanovich acted as a key middleman in a scheme that stole hundreds of electrical devices—known as rectifiers—used to maintain power at communications towers. These components are essential to keeping cellular and data networks operating during outages.
Between 2024 and 2025, investigators say Evanovich worked with three then-Sacramento residents who illegally entered tower facilities across the Eastern District of California, including sites in and around Placerville and the broader Sierra foothills.
According to federal prosecutors, the group stole more than 485 rectifiers valued at over $260,000. The equipment was transferred to Evanovich, who then sold it to legitimate third-party vendors in California, Illinois, Colorado and Texas.
Authorities say the conspirators attempted to conceal the origin of the equipment by creating invoices tied to fictitious businesses.
“As part of the scheme, Evanovich instructed his co-conspirators to create invoices in the names of false businesses to make it appear the equipment came from legitimate sources,” prosecutors said in a statement released through the U.S. Department of Justice.
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from regional law enforcement agencies, including authorities in Colorado, where some of the stolen equipment was traced or recovered.
One co-conspirator, Andrea Carter, has already been sentenced to 29 months in federal prison. The remaining defendants, Jonathan Matthew Curl and Trevor Fountain, are scheduled to be sentenced in April and May and each face up to five years in prison.
Evanovich faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 11, 2026, in federal court.
Federal officials said thefts of infrastructure components such as rectifiers can disrupt communications networks and public safety systems that rely on those towers.
