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2 Charged In April Anna Maria Island Home Invasion

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By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 4, 2008

Detectives in Manatee County arrested two men on Saturday in connection with an April home invasion on Anna Maria Island during which a woman was tied up after the homeowner was lured from the house.

Investigators arrested Michael Gambuzza, 40, and Christopher Drescher, 29 at a Days Inn, the Manatee County Sheriff's Office said. Neither gave deputies a permanent address.

The sheriff's office said that on Friday detectives learned Gambuzza and Drescher might have been involved in the April 17 home invasion and recovered some of the stolen items and identified a white van used in the robbery.

The home invasion was a well planned robbery. The sheriff's office said the homeowner, Joe Pandolph, was lured away from the house to discuss a business deal.

About the same time, someone called the house on Crescent Drive asking for Pandolph and was told he was gone. About five minutes later two men arrived at the door in a white van saying they had a delivery for Pandolph.

They had a box and invoice they showed Linda Cramer, 47, who was at the house, then forced their way inside.

They bound Cramer with plastic ties, demanded drugs, money and gold, then searched the house and left with some items, the sheriff's office said.

Detectives are still searching for more information and anyone who knows about the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers of Manatee County at (866) 634-TIPS, the sheriff's office said.

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