Two Ringleaders Plead Guilty For Their Roles In Burglary Ring

Ring Targeted Dunkin Donuts Shops and Other Small Businesses in New Jersey and Pennsylvania

December 10, 2007 -- TRENTON – New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal Justice Director Gregory A. Paw announced that two Atlantic County men pleaded guilty today to burglary charges for leading a commercial burglary ring that broke into nearly 100 small businesses across New Jersey and southeastern Pennsylvania, including numerous Dunkin Donuts shops.

According to Director Paw, Arthur Reynolds, 45, of Atlantic City, and Joseph Thomas Jr., 45, of Egg Harbor, each pleaded guilty today to three counts of burglary before Superior Court Judge Michael R. Connor in Atlantic County. Under the plea agreements, each man faces a sentence of 10 years in state prison, including five years without the possibility of parole.

The burglary ring was responsible for at least 97 burglaries – 91 in New Jersey and six in Pennsylvania, investigators determined. The indictment resulted from a nine-month investigation dubbed Operation Coffee Break conducted by a task force headed by the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice and the Edison Police Department. The task force included nearly 50 New Jersey police departments, the Pennsylvania State Police and 14 other Pennsylvania law enforcement agencies.

Reynolds, Thomas and six other defendants were indicted by a state grand jury on May 29. The six other defendants previously entered the following guilty pleas:

* Tanika Joyce, 30, of Pleasantville, pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary. Under the plea agreement, she faces four years in state prison when sentenced.
* Tanelle McGrew, 30, address unknown, pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary. Under the plea agreement, she faces four years in state prison when sentenced
* Tashana Joyce, 25, of Atlantic City, pleaded guilty to third-degree money laundering. Under the plea agreement, she faces one year in state prison when sentenced.
* Juanita L. Morgan, 28, of Atlantic City, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary. Under the plea agreement, she faces up to five years of probation, conditioned on her serving eight months in the county jail.
* Raynelle Williams, 37, of Atlantic City, pleaded guilty to one count of burglary. She was sentenced to probation, conditioned on her serving seven months in the county jail.
* Rasheedah T. Crouch, 28, of Atlantic City, pleaded guilty to one count of burglary. She was sentenced to probation, conditioned on her serving five months in the county jail.

The investigation revealed that the burglary ring used rental vehicles to travel to burglary sites. They would enter the businesses after hours by breaking door locks, frequently prying or twisting the locking mechanism out of the door. Surveillance videos at some of the businesses show a burglar or burglars dressed in dark clothes – hooded sweatshirt, mask, gloves and sneakers – carrying a dark backpack or tool bag. The burglars are seen moving swiftly to the cash registers and prying them open with a crowbar. Safes were stolen from some businesses along with additional items of monetary value.

Attorney General Milgram credited State Investigator Brian Woolston of the Division of Criminal Justice for leading the investigation with assistance from State Investigator James Nelson. Deputy Attorney General Jill Mayer took the guilty pleas today. The Attorney General also credited each of the law enforcement agencies that participated in the investigation as members of the task force.

Source: New Jersey Attorney General

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