A Delaware man was arrested for transporting stolen goods obtained through a string of jewelry store thefts in New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced Friday.
Federal officials said Mr. Michael Larbi, 24, of Dover, Delaware, is charged by complaint with five counts of interstate transportation of stolen goods from October 2020 through February 2021.
According to federal authorities Larvi made his initial appearance on November 3, 2022, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Arpert in Trenton federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From October 2020 through February 2021, Larbi engaged in a string of jewelry store thefts in multiple states, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware, which resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in stolen jewelry.
On October 28, 2020, Larbi entered a jewelry store in Marlton, New Jersey, asking to look at two engagement rings.
Larbi then took two rings left on a counter, took a ring from the store employee’s hand, and ran out of the store.
The value of the three stolen rings was $77,420. Larbi then traveled with the rings across state lines to Philadelphia.
On November 2, 2020, Larbi entered a jewelry store in Haddon Heights, New Jersey.
After asking to see jewelry, he forcibly took a box containing diamonds valued at $97,829 from the store employee’s hands and fled to Philadelphia.
On January 11, 2021, Larbi entered a jewelry store in Blackwood and stole two rings valued at approximately $8,500 before fleeing to Delaware.
On February 6, 2021, Larbi entered a jewelry store in Clifton, New Jersey, stole two rings valued at approximately $15,600, and fled to Bronx, New York.
Each count of interstate transportation of stolen goods is punishable by a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.