Delhi: In a significant operation of Federal law enforcement, 16 members of a major crime ring have been arrested for their alleged involvement in a series of violent armed robberies. These robberies specifically targeted jewellery stores owned by Indians and other Asian descent across four East Coast states over a year.
According to the District of Columbia, US attorney’s office, Federal law enforcement arrested eight suspects on Wednesday, while the remaining eight were apprehended earlier as a part of a broader effort to combat these criminal activities.
According to the press release, between January 7, 2022, to January 27, 2023, the defendants conspired in the District of Columbia to commit these robberies in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Florida, with a focus on jewellery shops owned by Asian Americans. Nine “South Asian” jewellery stores were identified as targets, at least four of which were owned by Indian origin individuals.
The criminals operated by donning dark clothing, masks, and gloves, wielding firearms, and using stolen vehicles to commit the robberies and make a quick getaway. They managed to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of jewellery from these small businesses along the East Coast.
Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg said, “The defendants targeted small businesses along the East Coast, stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of jewellery from hardworking families.” He emphasized the collaborative effort of law enforcement agencies across state lines in connecting the defendants to these crimes.
FBI-Newark Special Agent in Charge James Dennehy described these robberies as “take-over style” armed heists meant to terrorize and overwhelm store owners and employees.
“Many of the victim businesses are family owned and operated and have lost large sums of inventory. The alleged violent and reckless actions of the subjects are astounding; they gave no thought to the people who could have been seriously injured or even killed,” he said.
US Attorney Graves mentioned about the importance of collaborative operations in tackling criminals who threaten the safety of the communities. Search warrants executed during the operation led to the seizure of multiple firearms and around $300,000 from a safe in one of the suspects’ residences, the press release mentioned.
The arrested are slammed with 19 charges, including conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, which can result in a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. According to law, the use of firearms in these crimes carries a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years, with the possibility of a life sentence.
The final sentence will be determined by a federal judge, taking into account various factors and sentencing guidelines, it mentioned.