Five suspects accused of being part of a commercial breaking and entering ring that stole more than $50,000 worth of goods and 60 packages ordered through Amazon have been arraigned in various courts.
Salvatore’s Restaurant in Lawrence was among the businesses that were broken into, according to state Attorney General Maura Healey, whose office is leading the investigation.
The investigation began when Brookline detectives sought the help of Boston police and the Boston Regional Intelligence Center after an early morning break-in at the Tatte Bakery in Brookline in September 2017.
Massachusetts State Police troopers assigned to the Attorney General’s Office joined the probe. The Andover, Cambridge, Medford, Quincy, Taunton and Weymouth police departments assisted the investigation, Healey said.
Investigators gathered evidence from video, physical and forensic sources linking one or more of the five defendants to very similar break-ins and thefts at Salvatore’s Restaurant in Lawrence and Wendy’s restaurants in Medford, Taunton and Quincy from August 2016 to December 2017.
Investigators uncovered dozens of unopened Amazon packages and boxes addressed to customers in Greater Boston while searching one of the defendant’s homes after obtaining a warrant, Healey said.
Jason Geddes, 30, Dharol Joyner, 34, and Daniel Vo, 23, all of Dorchester, were arraigned Thursday in Norfolk Superior Court in connection with a break-in and theft at a Wendy’s in Quincy on Dec. 14. Each is charged with breaking and entering in the nighttime, larceny over $250, possession of burglarious tools, conspiracy and misdemeanor wanton destruction of property.
They pleaded not guilty and are due back in court for a pre-trial conference Aug. 2. Geddes was also arraigned on charges of receiving stolen property and conspiracy in Suffolk Superior Court on June 13.
Joyner was arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court on June 28 on charges of larceny of over $250 by a single scheme in connection with the stolen Amazon packages. He is due back in court on that charge July 18. Investigators believe Joyner stole the Amazon packages while working as a delivery contractor, Healey said.
Raheem Rivera, 19, of Dorchester, was arraigned June 15 in Norfolk Superior Court on the same charges. Rivera pleaded not guilty and faces a pre-trial conference Aug. 2.
Edward Nugent, 55, of Weymouth, has been arraigned on the following charges, including additional charges and enhancements as a habitual criminal offender and common and notorious thief:
Suffolk Superior Court, June 21 – receiving stolen property and conspiracy.
Bristol Superior Court, July 5 – breaking and entering in the nighttime, larceny over $250, possession of burglarious tools, conspiracy, misdemeanor wanton destruction of property.
Nugent pleaded not guilty to all charges. He will be arraigned on additional charges in Middlesex and Norfolk superior courts at a later date.
He and Geddes are scheduled to appear in Suffolk Superior Court on Aug. 7 for a pre-trial conference. Nugent is due back in Bristol Superior Court on Aug. 16.
Investigators have evidence that the defendants collectively stole more than $50,000 worth of goods. In at least one instance, they stole more than $20,000 worth of goods in a single night, Healey said.
Authorities recovered a loaded firearm, ammunition, prybars, a crowbar, a sledgehammer and other burglarious tools, clothing, thousands of dollars in cash, ski masks, gloves, cellular telephones, identifying documents and other evidence. In addition, investigators recovered from multiple residences dozens of suspected stolen boxed merchandise and delivery packages.
The investigation is continuing, Healey said. Assistant Attorney General Stephen Carley of the Enterprise, Major and Cyber Crimes Division of the Attorney General’s Office is prosecuting this case.
