The Monroe County District Attorney’s Office announces the addition of a new detective assigned to its Criminal Investigation Division (CID).  Robert Sebastianelli, a retired Pennsylvania State Trooper with more than twenty-five years of experience in law enforcement and criminal investigations, has joined the team.

District Attorney E. David Christine, Jr. said, “We are proud to have the reputation and working conditions that attract talented and committed investigators to serve the citizens of Monroe County.  Rob Sebastianelli brings more than 25 years of experience as a former Pennsylvania State Trooper.  We look forward to the contribution he will bring to our great team of county detectives.”

The Pennsylvania State Police have established a municipal automobile theft/motor vehicle insurance fraud task force program throughout Pennsylvania to coordinate automobile theft and motor vehicle insurance fraud prevention, investigation, and enforcement activities.  Although Monroe County has for many years provided support for the task force, this is the first time that the District Attorney’s Criminal Investigation Division will have a full-time detective assigned to the force.  This program is fully funded by grants from the Automobile Theft Prevention Trust Fund and no Monroe County taxes are expended there.

Detective Sebastianelli will be responsible for conducting investigations into auto theft, cargo theft, ATV-Motorcycle theft, theft of construction vehicles/heavy equipment, in addition to dealing with title fraud and the fraudulent re-VIN’ing of vehicles.  The position specializes in long term and undercover investigations into organized auto theft groups.

Detective Sebastianelli joins a dedicated group of detectives within the District Attorney’s Office responsible for providing prosecutorial support for thirteen (13) prosecutors.  Investigations as diverse as economic and elder fraud, drug and human trafficking, child pornography, crimes occurring on county property and at the correctional facility are the responsibility of the MCDA CID.  Additionally the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office utilizes cutting edge digital and computer forensic technologies and is frequently asked to provide forensic services to agencies from outside the county.