Allen Williams, Robbery Conspiracy, New York 2014

Multi-State Robbery Crew Dismantled

Allen Williams, 35, Roberto Grant, 33, Terrell Ratliff, 22, and Tyrone DeHoyos, 35, have been charged in a multi-state robbery crew that stole over $1 million in luxury watches and goods.

According to the allegations, the crew, operating across New York, New Jersey, and Virginia, carried out a series of violent robberies of high-end jewelry and watch stores, resulting in the theft of over a million dollars in luxury watches.

The robberies followed a simple but brazen pattern: On each occasion, three to five members of the crew entered a jewelry or watch store, began smashing glass display cases with hammers, grabbed luxury watches from those display cases, and then fled within minutes of entering the store into waiting getaway cars driven by members of the robbery crew.

Among the stores robbed by the crew are: Cartier in Manhattan, New York; the Borgata Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey; Schwarzschild’s Jewelers in Richmond, Virginia; and Martin Jewelers in Cranford, New Jersey.

DeHoyos was arrested yesterday in Brooklyn, New York, and was presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew J. Peck. DeHoyos was ordered detained pending trial.

Williams, Grant, and Ratliff were all previously arrested by the NYPD and are expected to be transferred into federal custody to be presented on the charges contained in the Complaint.

“As alleged, the defendants engaged in violent robberies of luxury jewelry stores in New York, New Jersey, and Virginia,” said Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara. “They allegedly combined forethought with force, scouting out their targets and then terrorizing customers and employees by smashing display cases with hammers and stealing high-end timepieces.”

The defendants are charged in Count One of the Complaint, conspiracy to commit robbery in interstate commerce, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/four-individuals-charged-manhattan-federal-court-participating-multi-state-robbery-crew