Six charged in multi-state designer goods burglary ring; thefts linked to Morris, Sussex and Somerset counties

NEW JERSEY  — Six individuals from Washington, D.C., and Maryland have been charged in connection with a multi-state burglary ring that targeted consignment shops, including locations in Roxbury Township in Morris County, Watchung Borough in Somerset County, and Branchville Borough in Sussex County, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

Marco Honesty, 28; Richard Francis, 35; Dominique Hayes, 29; Deandre Dudley, 32; Ilon Coles-Melson, 21; and Marcus Gallmon, 21, are each charged by federal complaint with one count of conspiracy to transport and sell stolen property across state lines.

According to court documents and statements, the group is accused of committing at least 18 commercial burglaries between March and November 2024 across New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware. The suspects allegedly used sledgehammers and other tools to forcibly enter businesses during overnight hours, stealing luxury handbags and other high-value items before transporting them across state lines.

The complaint details multiple burglaries in New Jersey, including three in Roxbury, one in Watchung, and one in Branchville:

• Roxbury (Morris County) – The consignment store was burglarized three times:

  • On March 20, 2024, suspects used force to break in during early morning hours and stole luxury items.

  • On March 26, 2024, the same store was targeted again, with evidence linking the defendants to the scene.

  • On June 18, 2024, a third break-in occurred. Investigators matched vehicle tracking and digital evidence to the suspects.

• Watchung (Somerset County) – On March 11, 2024, a burglary took place at a designer resale shop, with suspects forcibly entering and stealing numerous high-value handbags.

• Branchville (Sussex County) – On April 14, 2024, a consignment boutique was broken into, with stolen merchandise valued in the tens of thousands. Phone location data linked the defendants to the area.

The suspects were apprehended and appeared in federal court in Newark on various dates from February to June 2025. Honesty, Hayes, and Coles-Melson were detained following their appearances, while Dudley, Gallmon, and Francis were released on $100,000 unsecured bonds.

The charge of conspiracy to sell or receive stolen property carries a maximum potential sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the value of the property involved, whichever is greater.

Anyone with information about the theft ring or who believes they may be a victim is urged to contact Homeland Security Investigations at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or a local field office.