Yeadon brothers admit roles in armed Marple robbery

MEDIA COURTHOUSE >> Two brothers involved in a gunpoint robbery and home invasion in 2015 entered sealed guilty pleas in federal court this month, according to online records.

Sterling Jack Wallace, 28, and Jamain Lamont Wallace, 27, had been charged with conspiracy, attempted robbery, carrying and using a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, and aiding and abetting in the break-in and robbery at a residence in the 2600 block of Old Cedar Grove Road in Marple on June 15, 2015.

The brothers, both of the 800 block of West Cobbs Creek Parkway in Yeadon, entered pleas before Chief Judge Petrese B. Tucker of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania May 4, but it was unclear exactly what charges they admitted to.

A third defendant in the federal case, Tyree Eric Mansell, 37, of Philadelphia, is scheduled for a jury trial on conspiracy, robbery, attempted robbery and weapons charges July 10 before Petrese.

All three were originally charged in Delaware County in 2015 along with a fourth defendant, Abdullah Hartage, who was 17 at the time of his arrest charged as an adult.

Hartage entered open guilty pleas under two separate cases in June 2016 to two counts each of robbery and burglary, as well as four counts of criminal conspiracy and one count of firearms carried without a license.

Delaware County Court of Common Pleas Judge George Pagano sentenced Hartage to two to four years in a state correctional facility in August and ordered him to pay nearly $126,000 in restitution.

Local charges against the Wallace brothers and Mansell were withdrawn in June in favor of the federal indictment, which claims the and three men conspired to rob the Cedar Grove home because they believed it was where the proceeds of a local tavern were being kept.

Hartage allegedly drove the others to the home where Mansell and Sterling Wallace approached the door with firearms. Hartage and Jamain Wallace remained in the car as lookouts, according to the indictment.

The victim’s 17-yearold son opened the door and was pushed back into the home at gunpoint, according to the indictment. Sterling Wallace allegedly struck the teen in the face with his gun, causing a severe laceration and bleeding. Mansell allegedly confronted the boy’s mother on the second floor and pointed a gun at her as Sterling Wallace marched her son up the stairs and directed him into a bedroom.

Jamain Wallace then allegedly entered the home and joined the other two defendants upstairs, where he took Mansell’s gun and stood guard over the victims as Mansell and Sterling Wallace ransacked the house. Mansell allegedly found a safe in a bedroom and forced the woman to open it at gunpoint.

The men then allegedly returned to Hartage in the car and fled, making off with a large amount of cash and jewelry.

Police responded to the residence at 1:04 p.m. The victims’ feet and hands had allegedly been bound by electrical wire and cloth, but the woman was able to free herself and call 911.

Officers allegedly located a gold Lexus traveling on Route 320 occupied by four black males and attempted a stop on Lawrence Road. The Wallace brothers and Hartage were taken into custody at that time, along with two firearms; a 9mm Smith and Wesson, and a 9mm Beretta. Both weapons were loaded, according to the indictment.

Mansell was later apprehended at a restaurant in Charlotte, N.C., and returned to Pennsylvania to face charges.