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Multi-State Museum Heist Crew Sentenced In Decades-Long Crime: Feds
It took them 20 years to steal it all—but just four weeks for a jury to take it back. Now, multiple members of the Pennsylvania-based museum heist crew are heading to prison.
Thomas Trotta, 49, of Dunmore, was sentenced on Friday, March 14 to serve 96 months in prison, followed by supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,759,073 in restitution for his role in the massive multi-state theft operation targeting fine art, sports memorabilia, and historic artifacts worth over $4 million the FBI announced on Tuesday, March 18.
Trotta and his co-conspirators carried out a string of museum heists …
Scammers Stole Taylor Swift Eras Tour Tickets In $600K+ Scheme, Prosecutors Say
Taylor Swift fans are hoping "Karma" comes to whoever scammed them out of expensive tickets to The Eras Tour.
Two people were accused of stealing nearly 1,000 tickets to high-demand events, including the popstar's record-breaking concert tour. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced arrests in the case in a news release on Monday, Mar. 3.
Tyrone Rose, 20, of Kingston, Jamaica, and Shamara Simmons, 31, of Queens, NY, were facing charges including grand larceny, conspiracy, and computer tampering.
"These defendants tried to use the popularity of Taylor Swift…
Pair Who Stole 50 Firearms From Virginia Gun Store To Re-Sell In DC Sentenced: Feds
A pair who conspired to steal 50 weapons from a federal firearms licensee (FFL) with the intent to sell them have been sentenced, authorities announced.
District resident Victor Jones, 22, and Cedric Minger, of Brandywine, both 22, were among four involved with two others to rob a gun seller, officials say.
According to court documents, on April 29, 2023, the four drove a stolen Acura ILX from Washington to an FFL in Springfield with the intention of breaking in and stealing weapons.
After his initial attempts to gain entry, including shooting a round at the door with a firearm, were unsuc…
MD Fugitives Captured In Takedown Of $100K Target Store Theft Ring In VA: Sheriff
A trio of Maryland men accused of stealing $100,000 worth of merchandise across multiple towns were arrested in Virginia.
Stafford County Sheriff deputies responding to Target at Stafford Market Place around 11:45 a.m. Thursday, April 18 were met by a group of men hiding skin care items in a large bin, the sheriff's office said in a news release.
Among the men were Wilbur Sibert, 58, of Hyattsville, MD; Delbert Henry, 47, of Frederick, MD; and Canbrin Smith, 31, of Upper Marlboro, MD, police said. As deputies arrived, the trio fled out a fire exit with the stolen items.
The …
Shady Concert Venue Operator, Bar Owner Sentenced For Bribing DC Tax Official: Feds
Two men are heading to prison for their roles in separate conspiracies to evade tax obligations through bribes to a former DC Office of Tax and Revenue employee.
Andre De Moya, 51, of Temple Hills, and District resident Davoud Jafari, 72, will possibly spend years behind bars for their respective roles in multi-year schemes, federal authorities announced on Thursday.
Specifically, De Moya was sentenced to 30 months in prison, while Jafari was hit with 24 months for their roles in the schemes.
In both schemes, the bribe payments and communications were facilitated by middleman Anthony Merri…
Former FBI Special Agent From MD, DC Realtor Get Prison Time For Bribery Scheme
A former FBI special agent found himself on the wrong side of the law after conspiring with a DC real estate developer to share confidential information, authorities announced.
David Paitsel, 42, formerly of Prince George's County, and Brian Bailey, a DC real estate developer have both been sentenced to years in prison and ordered to pay hefty fines for their roles in the schemes involving confidential details held by the DC Department of Housing and Community Development.
Paitsel, who now lives in North Carolina, was sentenced to 24 months, while Bailey, of Upper Marlboro, was hit wi…
Heard But Not Seen: Nigerian National Nabbed In $250,000 Audiobooks Scheme, NJ Feds Say
A Nigerian national living in Bangladesh contracted with more than 600 voice actors to produce audiobooks of written works that he didn't hold the rights to, federal authorities in New Jersey charged.
Anyanwu Benjamin Chizitere, 30, of Enugu, Nigeria, was part of a group that collected more than $250,000 by infringing on the copyright of a Newark-based company and its authors, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger said.
Chizitere worked for a financial services business that provided online money transfer and digital payment services to the company, the U.S. attorney said.
He po…
Pair Faces Life In Prison For Using Explosive Device To Rob 7-Eleven ATMs In DMV Region
Two men are facing federal charges in Maryland for an explosive scheme that saw them set fire to convenience stores in an effort to rob ATMs, according to officials.
Stephen Kennedy, 33, of Temple Hills, Maryland, and Donnell Kelly, 33, of Washington, DC, have been charged on a 10-count indictment by a federal grand jury on a host of charges following a yearlong conspiracy.
Prosecutors say that between January 2021 and January 2022, the pair conspired to commit arsons at 7-Eleven stores so that they could obtain cash contained in ATMs inside the stores.
Specifically, the indictment …
