By: Tracie Carter
Federal authorities have charged six individuals from Washington, D.C. and Maryland in connection with a coordinated scheme to burglarize consignment shops across five states and transport stolen luxury goods across state lines.
According to a statement released by the U.S. Department of Justice, the suspects—Marco Honesty, 28; Richard Francis, 35; Dominique Hayes, 29; Deandre Dudley, 32; Ilon Coles-Melson, 21; and Marcus Gallmon, 21—are each facing one count of conspiracy to sell and receive stolen property that was moved interstate.
Court records reveal the group is believed to have committed at least 18 nighttime burglaries between March and November 2024 in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware.
U.S. Federal Prosecutors said the suspects used sledgehammers and other tools to force their way into consignment shops, stealing high-end designer handbags and other valuables, which were then transported and resold in other states.
Each defendant has made separate appearances in Newark federal court over the past several months.
Some were ordered detained, while others were released on unsecured bonds of $100,000.
The conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000—or twice the value of the stolen property involved in the offense.