Gas theft nets 3 years in prison

EDWARDSVILLE -- A judge in Madison County has handed down a three-year prison sentence for an Edwardsville man accused of stealing gasoline to trade it for crack cocaine.

Brandon Greco received the sentence after pleading guilty last week to the thefts of gasoline from four gas stations.

Authorities contend the 27-year-old would drive off without paying after filling up a tank in the back of a pickup truck. Prosecutors say he'd then sell the fuel for drugs.

Witnesses gave authorities descriptions of Greco and the truck, and police were on the alert for him. Officials say he pulled off his last thefts on June 5 in Glen Carbon and wasn't far from the station when police chased him down and arrested him