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Two people are facing drug and theft charges after allegedly stealing over $500,00 of products from Zimmer Biomet.
Paul Douglas Stellwag II, 44, of 304 W. Pine St., Pierceton, is charged with dealing methamphetamine, a level 2 felony; possession of methamphetamine, a level 3 felony; and theft where the value of property is over $50,000, a level 5 felony.
Heather Michelle Williams, 50, of 2691 W. 200S, Warsaw, is charged with theft where the value of property is over $50,000, a level 5 felony; and possession of marijuana, a class B misdemeanor.
Williams was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail Feb. 10. Williams waived her initial hearing and now has a pre-trial hearing on July 20.
Stellwag was booked into the KCJ on June 22. Stellwag already had his initial hearing and now has a status conference on July 27.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on Feb. 9 the Narcotic Enforcement Task Force 43 (NET 43) assisted the Whitley County Drug Task Force and conducted surveillance on Stellwag’s residence. Officers saw UPS deliver a package to Stellwag’s porch and he retrieved it.
On Feb. 9, the Whitley County Drug Task Force conducted a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Stellwag and he was arrested. The confidential informant said Stellwag talked about stealing and reselling product from Zimmer Biomet. Stellwag told the confidential informant Williams, an employee of Zimmer Biomet, provided him the product from Zimmer Biomet.
Officers searched Stellwag’s vehicle and located 20 packages that contained Dragon Tongue Suture Power distributed by Zimmer Biomet.
Law enforcement interviewed Stellwag and he admitted he received Zimmer Biomet property from Williams and then he resells them, according to court documents.
On Feb. 9, NET 43 executed a search warrant at Stellwag’s residence and located new Zimmer Biomet property in its original packaging that ranged from surgical devices to implants to power equipment used in surgeries. Law enforcement saw a shipping label with Williams’ name and address on a box that contained Zimmer Biomet property.
Law enforcement located two plastic bags in Stellwag’s residence that contained a white crystal substance that later field tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed about 177.88 grams.
On Feb. 10, Zimmer Biomet representatives identified the stolen property and verified the serial numbers were currently listed in their inventory. They located over 1,000 stolen products with an approximate value of over $500,000. Stellwag worked for Zimmer Biomet previously and was terminated on Jan. 30, 2025.
On Feb. 10, a NET 43 detective confirmed Williams’ employment, learned her official position was distribution handler and she had access to the stolen products, according to court documents. The detective asked to talk with Williams and she asked if it was related to Stellwag’s arrest. Williams was transported to the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office, advised of her Miranda rights and she requested an attorney.
On Feb. 10, NET 43 officers executed a search warrant. They obtained Williams’ cell phone. In the residence, they found a Zimmer box that contained a cardboard box label with a receiving label to Zimmer Inc., three opened THC gummies and a cardboard box with a label “Reciprocating Saw Blade.”
On Feb. 16, two NET 43 officers talked with Stellwag, who said he would send Williams a part number, she would steal the item from Zimmer Biomet, and he would sell the item on eBay and through WhatsApp. Stellwag said he and Williams split the money 50/50 and it began in April 2025.
Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on Williams’ cell phone. They found text thread with items numbers Stellwag needed; Williams' communication when she obtained the items; information about an individual that came from Tijuana, picked up the stolen Zimmer Biomet items and then transported the items back to Tijuana; and 37 different notes with Zimmer Biomet item numbers and a code they understood utilizing emojis. The emoji code key was saved in a shared note.
