A Florida man who was charged in connection to a string of distraction-style burglaries against senior citizens in 2018 was sentenced to 35 months in prison for the offenses Wednesday, Feb. 14.

Archie Marino, 37, and his father Steven Nichols, 53, were charged by the state Office of the Attorney General after burglaries committed from August to November 2018 against two senior citizens in Butler County and others across the state.

Marino plead guilty to counts of burglary and theft in November 2023 and was sentenced Wednesday by Judge Maura Palumbi to pay a $100 fine and serve 35 months in prison. He is also to have no contact with any of the victims.

Palumbi said the shorter sentence for Marino was due to the payment of $21,849 in restitution and a guilty plea.

“I’m happy to see (the victims) will be repaid the money you took from them in their lifetime,” she told Marino.

Marino’s eligibility for the Recidivism Risk Reduction Incentive program also contributed to the length of his sentence. The program allows nonviolent offenders to have reduced sentences dependent on their completion of recommended programs and good behavior during incarceration.

Nichols was also scheduled for sentencing Wednesday, but was hospitalized in Florida, according to defense attorney Stephen Colafella.

Palumbi and Summer Carroll, who prosecuted the case for the attorney general’s office, agreed written proof of Nichols’ hospitalization would result in a warrant not being filed for his arrest.

Following sentencing, defense attorney Bruce Carsia requested a deferment of 30 days to allow Marino to receive back surgery. The request was denied and Marino was taken into custody by members of the Butler County Sheriff's Department.

Marino and Nichols’ father-son operation involved one of them posing as a utility worker at an elderly victim’s home. Charging documents showed they would arrive unannounced and talk to the victims about phone, water or electrical work. After the two left, most of the victims said they discovered cash, jewelry and valuable coins had been stolen.