Man Convicted In Theft Of GM Machinery, Metals

HOWELL (WWJ/AP) - A jury has convicted a Michigan man of embezzling more than $100,000 in machinery, tools and precious metals from General Motors.

The verdict was returned Wednesday in the case against Jeffrey Michael Eastom, who is due back in court on Aug. 29 for sentencing.

According to trial testimony, Eastom was the ringleader behind a group of then-employees from Ideal Setech in Howell who from 2008 to 2010 were stealing metals including copper and selling them to a recycling center. The company housed GM property.

Defense attorney Edwin Literski said during the trial that two of Eastom's co-defendants didn't initially implicate Eastom, but changed their stories ahead of reaching plea agreements.

The other four co-defendants entered plea deals in their cases. Two co-defendants have been sentenced and two are awaiting sentencing next month.

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