Michael Naple Sean

A couple is accused of stealing fireworks in Lehigh Acres just before Independence Day.

On June 29, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a burglary to a fireworks tent at Meadow Road and Gunnery Road, according to officials. Michael Sean Naple, 25, and Ashley Lyall, 20, both of 4212 S.E. 19th Place, Cape Coral, were asked to watch the tent by one of the workers.

Naple stated he and Lyall heard a noise and woke up to find thousands of dollars worth of fireworks had been stolen. A report was taken and the investigation was turned over to LCSO investigators.

During the investigation, detectives discovered an online local buy/sell website. The website listed unique fireworks for sale, which appeared to be the items taken from the Lehigh fireworks tent.

Officials reported that detectives arranged to meet the seller to purchase the fireworks.

Ashley Susan Lyall

At the buy, detectives found the sellers were Naple and Lyall. Inside their vehicle was a large amount of fireworks in plain view. Both were detained and a search warrant was executed on the vehicle.

Facts obtained in the investigation led detectives to believe that the duo stole the fireworks from the tent that they were guarding, then filed a fictitious burglary report. A search warrant was also executed on a storage unit that was suspected to hold the remaining stolen property, according to officials.

Detectives recovered the majority of the stolen fireworks during the investigation.

Lyall was charged with grand theft and dealing in stolen property.

Naple was charged with grand theft, dealing in stolen property and filing a false statement.

Lyall has since been released on bond from the Lee County Jail, where Naple remains.

Source: Lee County Sheriff’s Office