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New charge filed against 'wannabe high-roller'

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

By MARK R. KENT

Staff Reporter

A new stolen property charge was filed Tuesday against Matthew Boykin Walker in connection with a cache of stolen items, including yard statues and chandeliers, Mobile County Sheriff Sam Cochran said.

Walker, 59, now faces four charges of first-degree receiving stolen property. He was released Tuesday afternoon from Mobile County Metro Jail on $7,500 bail, jail records show, two hours after he turned himself in.

Described by authorities as a "wannabe high-roller in Mobile," Walker was known to pose as a homebuyer in wealthy parts of Mobile and Baldwin counties, and then valuable items would be stolen when the homeowners were out of town, according to Cpl. Keith Miller of the sheriff's white-collar crimes division. Walker was arrested Oct. 22 on the first three charges, according to jail records.

Cochran said the charge filed Tuesday centered on items previously recovered, all taken from a residence in the 14000 block of Airport Boulevard.

He said yard statues, furniture, chandeliers and other antiques were among the items. Cochran said that though Walker has been charged only with receiving the stolen items, theft charges are possible against him or others.

The sheriff's office estimated that items recovered so far have a value of more than $500,000, and included a 1953 place setting engraved by President Dwight Eisenhower to then-Sen. John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline.

Walker has in the past developed west Mobile subdivisions, and he co-founded a Tunica, Miss., casino.

Cochran said the investigation against Walker was continuing.