Pharmacy Burglary Ring Busted in Jersey City

Newark, N.J. – In a three-month span, a group of 10 Jersey City men went on a crime spree, breaking into at least 40 pharmacies in northern New Jersey. Their brazen burglaries have finally come to an end, as the men face federal charges for their roles in the conspiracy.

The defendants, all from Jersey City, include Mohummad Simmons, 25, a/k/a “Mo Waps;” Tamir Brown, 27, a/k/a “Stragg;” Rico Phang, 19, a/k/a “Little Mil;” Deon Davis, 24, a/k/a “Dee;” Michael Simeus, 27, a/k/a “Jerk;” David Booker, 28; Darrel Hicks, 25; Daquan Hart, 22, a/k/a “Day Day;” Jamiel French, 27, a/k/a “Money Mil;” and Tyriq Rembert, 28.

The men, who wore dark clothing, facemasks, and gloves during their burglaries, used various methods to gain entry to the pharmacies, including breaking windows or doors with a brick or a rock. They stole controlled substances, including codeine, a Schedule II controlled substance, acetaminophen with codeine, a Schedule III controlled substance, and promethazine with codeine, a Schedule V controlled substance.

According to documents filed in this case, the burglaries took place from October 11, 2020, through December 22, 2020. The pharmacies were victimized in Secaucus, North Bergen, Linden, Guttenberg, Kenilworth, Madison, Short Hills, Iselin, Jersey City, West New York, North Arlington, and Lyndhurst.

On October 11, 2020, Simmons, Phang, and a conspirator forcibly entered a pharmacy in Secaucus and took promethazine with codeine, a Schedule V controlled substance. They were recorded on surveillance video and fled the scene in a black Chevrolet Malibu registered to Simmons.

The men are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit burglary involving controlled substances. Simmons, Hart, and Rembert appeared by videoconference for their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark III on January 22, 2021. Hicks appeared today by videoconference for his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leda D. Wettre. Brown is in custody on related state charges. The remaining defendants are at large.

“The complaint charges that the defendants went on a crime spree throughout northern New Jersey, breaking into pharmacies and stealing dangerous controlled substances, including opioids,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig. “I applaud the Drug Enforcement Administration and our local law enforcement partners for responding quickly to identify these suspects so that they can be brought to justice.”

The success of this investigation was the result of teamwork, the sharing of information between law enforcement agencies, and good, old-fashioned police work, said Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division Susan A. Gibson.