Andres Barclett Sentenced

A brazen crime spree has come to an end for Andres Barclett, also known as “Coolie,” a 27-year-old Hartford man who was sentenced to 15 months of imprisonment for his role in an extensive commercial larceny spree.

Barclett was part of a network of individuals who committed over 50 “grab and go” thefts from various retail fashion stores in Connecticut and nearby states, including Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. The thieves would enter a store, grab as many items as they could carry, and leave without paying, often departing in a waiting getaway vehicle.

The stolen merchandise, worth over $50,000, was then transported to Connecticut and sold on the internet or on the street. Barclett participated in at least 13 of these thefts, which targeted stores such as Polo Ralph Lauren, T.J. Maxx, Balenciaga, Burberry, Macy’s, Marshalls, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Tommy Hilfiger, and Sephora.

On September 15, 2020, a grand jury returned a six-count indictment charging Barclett and seven other individuals. Barclett has been detained since May 8, 2020, after being arrested on unrelated state charges. He pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy to transport and possess stolen property on August 25, 2021.

U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant ordered Barclett to pay $19,968.85 in restitution. The sentence was the result of a long-term multi-agency investigation, dubbed “Operation American Steal,” which involved the Federal Bureau of Investigation and several local police departments, including the Hartford, New Canaan, Wrentham, Auburn, and Nassau County Police Departments.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret Donovan and Brendan Keefe. Barclett will serve his 15-month sentence, followed by two years of supervised release. The sentence serves as a warning to others who would engage in similar crimes, and it brings closure to the victims of the grab and go theft scheme.

The investigation and prosecution of Barclett and his co-conspirators demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement to combatting organized crime and protecting the businesses and communities that are targeted by these types of thefts. As the case comes to a close, it is clear that the collaborative efforts of federal and local authorities have resulted in justice being served.