‘Mr. Big’ gets state prison sentence

‘Felony Lane Gang’ member also ordered to pay thousands of dollars in restitution

The Florida man said to be one of the organizers of the East Coast “Felony Lane Gang” who led local and state police on a high-speed highway car chase has been sentenced in the case and ordered to pay thousands of dollars in restitution to eight victims and the Tredyffrin Police Department.

On Wednesday, defendant Jerome Brandon Glinton of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, appeared before Common Pleas Judge William P. Mahon to enter guilty pleas to two counts of felony identity theft and one count of conspiracy. Accompanied by his attorney, Scott Kramer of Media, Glinton was sentenced to three to eight years in state prison and three years consecutive probation, as part of a plea agreement with the District Attorney’s Office.

Glinton, 25, was ordered to pay $8,775 in restitution for items that were stolen from cars in the county before the chase started.

According to a list of the victims, the items included jewelry, credit cards, phones, purses, cash, gift cards, wallets, and makeup. The named victims were all women from across eastern Pennsylvania in places like Downingtown, Glenmoore, North Wales, Wernersville, and Langhorne.

In addition, Glinton was ordered to pay $3,308 to the Tredyffrin Police Department for damages to vehicles that were involved in the chase on Route 202 and I-76 into Philadelphia.

Glinton had been held without bail in Chester County Prison after his arrest in March. He had been charged with 130 counts of identity theft, receiving stolen property, access device fraud, recklessly endangering another person, and conspiracy.

Mahon had earlier revoked Glinton’s bail because of the possibility that he might be one of the top members of the loosely organized gang that targets female shoppers at mall and retail center parking lots along the East Coast. They steal their purses or handbags, using credit cards and identification to cash checks at drive-through banks — using the “felony lane” to make their getaway.

All of those arrested in the case have now been sentenced. Keenon Seymour, another of the leaders of the gang, pleaded guilty on Monday and was sentenced to 18 months to 48 months in state prison.

The other defendants included Sherry Howard, 48, of Baltimore, Maryland; Ashley Hamm, 22, of

Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Heather Miller, 29, of Baltimore, Maryland, Keenon Seymour, 18, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Jeremy Espenshade, 28, of Baltimore, Maryland; and Jeremy Evans, 40, of Baltimore, Maryland. All are currently being held in lieu of bail in Chester County Prison.

The remainder all received lesser sentences in county prison, except Hamm, who was sentenced to two to six years in state prison in August.

Assistant District Attorney Andrew Davis, who led the prosecution, again recited the facts that brought the offenders to court.

Events leading to these alleged gang members’ arrest began shortly after 1:30 p.m. on March 1. Tredyffrin police received reports from two off-duty firefighters eating lunch at Wendy’s on Swedesford Road near the Valley Forge Shopping Center.

The firefighters reported what they believed to be suspicious activity taking place near a Dodge Voyager parked nearby, police said.

When police arrived, three men standing around the vehicle fled. Police chased and apprehended all three suspects. Another vehicle, a large Chevy SUV with four suspects inside, including Glinton, attempted to flee and clipped another

incoming police cruiser.

Tredyffrin police immediately gave chase. They notified state police, who also gave assistance.

The suspects fled on 202 north then I-76 east, heading toward Philadelphia. On I-76 east approaching the Belmont Avenue exit,

the suspects crashed into a state police car and immediately tried to flee. All four were taken into custody; one threw what police believe to be a weapon into the water.