Burglars sentenced for $1.5M crime spree
NORRISTOWN » Four men linked to a “sophisticated” burglary ring that targeted “high-value homes” in Montgomery, Chester and Delaware counties learned they’re headed to state prison for their roles in the conspiracy.
Kebbie Ramseur, 40, Jerrel Jaynes, 41, and Ralph Curtis Mayrant, 41, all of Philadelphia, and Shron Kareem Linder, 40, of Upper Darby Township, Delaware County, were sentenced this week in Montgomery County Court to various state prison terms after they were convicted of burglary-related charges in connection with some or all of the 15 incidents that occurred between 2015 and 2016 and allegedly netted the men more than $1.5 million in stolen money, jewelry and designer purses.
“This was a sophisticated burglary operation where they utilized technology such as cellphones, walkietalkies and conducted surveillance of their victims. They knew when (the victims) were not home. They researched and targeted high-value homes, multimillion dollar homes,” said Assistant District Attorney Benjamin McKenna, who sought lengthy prison terms against all four men.
Prosecutors alleged the men worked as a four-man team during the incidents which included 14 burglaries and one attempted burglary. The men were sentenced by Judge Garrett D. Page.
Ramseur, of Kerper Street, Philadelphia, who was convicted of charges of corrupt organizations and conspiracy and attempt to commit burglary, was sentenced to 10 to 20 years in state prison.
“He was involved in the most burglaries,” McKenna alleged.
Jaynes, of South 47th Street in Philadelphia, was sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison.
Linder, of the 300 block of Edmonds Avenue in Upper Darby Township, Delaware County, who was convicted of corrupt organizations and conspiracy to commit burglary in connection with the incidents was sentenced to 8½ to 17 years in state prison.
Mayrant, of Westford Road in Philadelphia and the 300 block of Norris Street in Chester, was sentenced to four to eight years in state prison.
Ramseur, Jaynes and Linder were convicted late last year by Judge Page at non-jury trials during which they stipulated to certain facts contained in an affidavit of probable cause. Mayrant pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit burglary for his role in six of the burglaries.
The men are responsible for varying amounts of restitution to the victims, depending on which burglaries they participated in, according to court documents.
“They stole jewelry, close to $1.5 million worth of jewelry. The victims said this to us, that more important than the value of the items stolen is their feeling that they are no longer safe in their own homes,” said McKenna, who was assisted at trial by co-prosecutor Timothy Collier.
“When you talk about a burglary it is, on paper, a property crime but that is not how the people who are victims of it feel. They feel like their personal security is attacked. They feel like their family is no longer safe,” McKenna added. “Every single person deserves to be able to go to sleep at night and feel safe in their own home.”
Prosecutors alleged the four burglars also worked with jeweler Wasim Shazad, 49, of Hannah Avenue in East Norriton, to fence some of the stolen jewelry at Shazad’s three storefronts located along Jewelers Row in Philadelphia. Shazad is still awaiting trial on charges of allegedly being part of a corrupt organization, dealing in proceeds of an unlawful activity, receiving stolen property and conspiracy.
Shazad, who remains free on bail while awaiting trial, has denied the charges.
Shazad recently lost his pretrial bid to suppress evidence seized from his three stores during the investigation, which will open the door for prosecutors to present that evidence to a jury at trial. Shazad, through his lawyer, had claimed the search warrants were not legal, but Judge Page found otherwise.
The 15 incidents included eight in Montgomery County, six in Delaware County and one in Chester County. The burglaries were committed between 2015 and July 2016. The victims of the burglaries suffered financial loss in excess of $1.5 million, prosecutors alleged.
Among the Main Line burglaries one occurred on April 19, 2016, at a home on Barberry Road in Villanova during which the culprits entered by smashing a sliding glass door. A large safe that contained $237,000 worth of jewelry and cash was forced from a wall, authorities alleged.
Another burglary in Lower Merion included a robbery that occurred on Lafayette Road in Bryn Mawr on May 20, 2016. According to authorities, the victim told police three people forced their way into his home, tied him up and then stole $500,000 in jewelry and handbags.
Numerous other burglaries took place in Whitemarsh Township, Marple Township, Newtown Square, Media and other locations in the region.