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Douglas Mathis, 36; Jamir Scott, 25; and Tariq Duncan, 31, were seen Tuesday, September 24, 2024, wearing dark clothing and masks while breaking a lock on a trailer in the 7300 block of Edmund Street, the Attorney General's Office said. They were carrying 25 cases of beef valued at $7,000 from the trailer to their van.
Mathis, Scott, and Duncan were arraigned Sept. 24 with bail set at $200,000 each.
Mathis and Scott were charged with:
- Corrupt Organizations
- Conspiracy
- Theft By Unlawful Taking - Movable Property
- Receiving Stolen Property
- Possession of Instrument of Crime with Intent
- Evading Arrest or Detention on Foot.
Duncan received all of the same charges with the exception of Conspiracy.
The investigation -- known as Operation Beef Bandit -- is a joint operation between the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office, the Philadelphia Police Department, and the New Jersey State Police.
Operation Beef Bandit resulted in the arrest of four other Philadelphia men who were charged after a two-month investigation into nine burglaries at New Jersey Turnpike service areas.
Authorities involved in the joint operation said an organized criminal crew was breaking into parked tractor-trailers to steal millions of dollars of meat, seafood, and alcohol. This group was linked to similar thefts in neighboring states.
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