Laurel parents and children charged with crimes

Local News

January 14, 2010

Indiana State Police Connersville District investigators, troopers and emergency response team members, assisted by Indiana Conservation Officers, served arrest warrants on residences located at 13036 and 13088 Smokey Hollow Road, Laurel, Jan. 14 around 8 a.m. “The warrants were the result of a lengthy ongoing investigation by multiple agencies,” said ISP Sgt. John Bowling, the district’s public information officer.

Felony arrest warrants were served on Bill Conn, 69, 13036 Smokey Hollow Road, for arson, a Class B felony; four counts of welfare fraud, one Class C felony and three Class D felonies; and three counts of receiving stolen property, a Class D felony. His wife, Darlene Conn, 62, was arrested for four counts of welfare fraud at the same felony levels.

Their son Lloyd Conn, 34, was arrested for arson, a Class B felony. Also arrested was their daughter, Barbara Gambill, 43, on a warrant for welfare fraud, a Class A misdemeanor.

Investigators say the arson charges stem from an investigation into the “revenge” burning of an outbuilding. The welfare fraud charges stem from an investigation into the Conns’ taking welfare food stamp debit cards in payment for loans, narcotics and stolen property.

All four were lodged in the Franklin County Security Center, Brookville.

According to Bowling, “This was not the first time warrants have been served on the Conns.” On March 30, 2009, troopers found and dismantled a meth lab at 13088 Smoky Hollow Road, Lloyd Conn’s residence. Thousands of dollars worth of stolen property was confiscated during that investigation. A month later, numerous felony warrants were served at these residences, with thousands of dollars worth of stolen property again being recovered.