Burglary Crew Targeted Asian Homeowners In NJ, Elsewhere: Feds

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Federal prosecutors announced Tuesday that eight alleged members of an interstate burglary crew have been charged in a conspiracy that targeted more than 50 homeowners of Asian descent in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York and Delaware.

The burglaries allegedly took place between December 2016 and March 2019, according to the criminal complaint.

“These defendants allegedly carried out a brazen conspiracy based on stereotype and opportunity,” FBI-Newark special agent George Crouch Jr. said. “It’s fitting that these arrests come at a time when society is raising awareness regarding crimes against [Asian-American residents].”

• See related article: NJ Bias Incidents Against Asians Up 82%, New Data Shows

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said the following people were charged with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property:

• Randi Barr of Irvington
• Terrance Black of Irvington
• Kevin Burton of Newark
• Kevin Jackson of Rahway
• Thomas Rodgers of Newark
• Rabine Armour of Easton, Pennsylvania
• James Hurt of Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania
• Sherman Glasco of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Burton is also charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and conspiring with Keesha Davis, of Elizabeth, to tamper with evidence, prosecutors said.

“As alleged in the complaint, these defendants were part of a sophisticated, multi-state burglary crew that targeted the homes of business owners of Asian descent, intending to steal the cash proceeds of their businesses, as well as jewelry, foreign currency and other property,” Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael Honig said.

“A comprehensive investigation led by our partners at the FBI and aided by the cooperation of local law enforcement revealed the links among over 50 residential burglaries,” Honig said.

Prosecutors released the following allegations on Tuesday:

“Law enforcement officials identified eight members of an interstate burglary crew responsible for more than 50 home burglaries. Armour, Burton, and Jackson were arrested in Old Bridge, and Barr was arrested in Hazlet during burglaries in progress. Searches of Armour’s and Burton’s residences revealed tens of thousands of dollars in United States currency and currency from Asian countries, jewelry, family heirlooms and other valuables that were previously reported stolen by victims. While searching vehicles used in the commission of burglaries, law enforcement recovered notes containing the home addresses of individuals of Asian descent with derogatory descriptive terms to identify the ethnicity of the homeowners.”

Prosecutors continued:

“A subsequent investigation of the contents of communications obtained from Armour and Burton’s cellular telephones, in addition to location data associated with crew members’ phone numbers, led law enforcement to identify other conspirators, including Glasco, Hurt, Black and Rodgers. In comparing communications, location information, and recovered stolen property with known burglaries matching the methods employed by the burglary crew, law enforcement was able to associate these defendants with numerous residential burglaries of homes owned by individuals of Asian descent.”

Prosecutors added:

“Law enforcement officials learned that unlawful entry into the homes was often made through unsecured second-floor windows. The victims’ cars were burglarized at their respective places of business in order to ascertain the homeowners’ addresses from the vehicles’ documents. Makeshift trackers were placed on victims’ vehicles. The crew looked for indications of occupancy of homes by individuals of Asian descent, and once inside, the crew sought out cash, jewelry and firearms.”

The charge of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the amount of money involved in the offense, whichever is greater, prosecutors said.

Honig credited FBI Newark’s Transnational Organized Crime Task Force with the investigation leading to Tuesday’s charges. She also thanked the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office, and the South Plainfield, South Whitehall, Eatontown, New York City, Edison, Hazlet, Kenilworth, New Castle County, Pocono Township, Sayreville, Old Bridge and Spotswood police departments for their work on the investigation.

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