Smyrna man sentenced after weapons, shoplifting and conspiracy conviction

A 30-year-old Smyrna man has been sentenced for his conviction on weapons, shoplifting and conspiracy charges.

In August 2016, Lawrence Malandruccolo stole spools of wiring from the Home Depot in the Peoples Plaza Shopping Center in Glasgow and tried to return them at the Home Depot on Sunset Boulevard in New Castle later the same day.

Loss prevention officers took Malandruccolo into custody and called police. When officers got there, they found a loaded nine millimeter handgun in the trunk of his car.

Malandruccolo, banned from having a firearm because of previous felony convictions for drug, theft and burglary charges, told police that the gun belonged to a co-defendant who got away.

Malandruccolo was convicted by a judge in May of possession of a firearm by a person prohibited, attempted shoplifting and third degree conspiracy. A Superior Court judge sentenced Malandruccolo to five years in prison followed by six months of either home confinement or work release, then two years of probation.