Ten alleged members of a copper theft ring were indicted this afternoon on charges of operating a sophisticated criminal organization that stole some 72,000 pounds of wiring along the H-1 and H-2 Freeways from 2005-2008, causing millions of dollars in damage and endangering the lives of motorists.

Three individuals, James B. "Freeway Jimmy" Taylor, Regina Foster and Joseph R. Tano, were identified by Deputy Prosecutor Christopher Van Marter as "ringleaders" of the group and face up to 10 years in prison and $25,000 fines if convicted.

Van Marter said the indictment was the culmination of a two-year investigation led by the Sheriffs Division of the state Department of Public Safety, augmented by work from Honolulu Police, the state Attorney General's office and the prosecutor's office.

The indictment was made possible by a 2007 law that tightened restrictions on re-sale of copper wire to metal recycling firms and increased penalties for sales of stolen copper, said Van Marter and Brennan Morioka, head of the state Transportation Department.