Burglary ring that targeted Asian American business owners busted by federal agents.

A burglary ring that targeted New Jersey Asian American business owners was the latest criminal gang busted by federal agents.

Eight members of an interstate burglary crew were charged for their roles in a conspiracy that targeted homeowners of Asian descent for residential burglaries, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced Tuesday, May 25.

Rabine Armour of Easton, Pennsylvania; Kevin Burton of Newark; Kevin Jackson of Rahway, New Jersey; Thomas Rodgers of Newark; James Hurt of Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania; Sherman Glasco of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Randi Barr of Irvington, New Jersey; and Terrance Black of Irvington, New Jersey, are charged by complaint with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property. 

Burton is also charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and conspiring with Keesha Davis, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, to tamper with evidence. The defendants will appear by videoconference today before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark III.

As alleged in the complaint, these defendants were part of a sophisticated, multi-state burglary crew that targeted the homes of business owners of Asian descent, intending to steal the cash proceeds of their businesses as well as jewelry, foreign currency, and other property,” Acting U.S. Attorney Honig said. 

“A comprehensive investigation led by our partners at the FBI and aided by the cooperation of local law enforcement revealed the links among over 50 residential burglaries and thereby uncovered this scheme. As a result of this careful investigative work, the defendants now face federal charges for their actions.” 

“These defendants allegedly carried out a brazen conspiracy based on stereotype and opportunity,” Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr. said. “It is fitting that these arrests come at a time when society is raising awareness regarding crimes against our Asian American citizens.”

Law enforcement officials identified eight members of an interstate burglary crew responsible for more than 50 home burglaries. 

Armour, Burton, and Jackson were arrested in Old Bridge, New Jersey, and Barr was arrested in Hazlet, New Jersey, during burglaries in progress. 

Searches of Armour’s and Burton’s residences revealed tens of thousands of dollars in United States currency and currency from Asian countries, jewelry, family heirlooms, and other valuables that were previously reported stolen by victims. 

According to court documents, while searching vehicles used in the commission of burglaries, authorities  recovered notes containing the home addresses of individuals of Asian descent with derogatory descriptive terms to identify the ethnicity of the homeowners.

A subsequent investigation of the contents of communications obtained from Armour and Burton’s cellular telephones, in addition to location data associated with crew members’ phone numbers, led law enforcement to identify other conspirators, including Glasco, Hurt, Black, and Rodgers. In comparing communications, location information, and recovered stolen property with known burglaries matching the methods employed by the burglary crew, law enforcement was able to link the defendants with numerous residential burglaries of homes owned by Asian Americans.

Law enforcement officials learned that unlawful entry into the homes was often made through unsecured second-floor windows; the victims’ cars were burglarized at their respective places of business in order to ascertain the homeowners’ addresses from the vehicles’ documents; makeshift trackers were placed on victims’ vehicles; the crew looked for indications of occupancy of homes by individuals of Asian descent; and once inside, the crew sought out cash, jewelry, and firearms.

The charge of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the amount of money involved in the offense, whichever is greater.

Asian Americans have been targets of burglary and home invasions in recent years. 

Authorities arrested three suspects in April for burglarizing 26 Asian American business owners in Colorado and Wyoming. All three suspects have been charged with racketeering, conspiracy and multiple counts of burglary and theft/criminal mischief, according to CBS Denver.

A Texas-based ring was busted in 2019 and earlier this month its leader was sentenced to 40 years in prison. Other members of the gang await sentencing. This group conducted a series of violent home invasions, tying up the Asian American occupants while searching their residences. 

Both the Texas and New Jersey operations based their criminal activities in the belief that Asian Americans distrusted financial institutions like banks and had large amounts of cash and jewelry stashed in their homes.

While the crimes occurred several years ago, many in the Asian American community say it adds anxiety in light of the uptick in Asian hate seen nationwide.

Lu-in Wang, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law who has studied crimes of opportunity against Asians, said choosing victims based on  stereotypes could be the reason for the proliferation of operations targeting Asian Americans at their homes.

Criminals might assume that Asian business owners or home owners would be easy targets who likely would have cash or valuable jewelry stored in their homes or would be reluctant to involve the police because of language barriers.

“We’re targeting you because we think you’re an easy target,” Wang said. “That can make people feel even more vulnerable than ‘We’re choosing you based on hate.’”