Trio admit roles in conspiracy to burglarize UPS warehouses across United States including NJ, stealing over $1.6M in packages
NEW JERSEY – Three Philadelphia men pleaded guilty Thursday to their roles in a conspiracy to burglarize approximately 55 United Parcel Service (UPS) warehouses across the United States including New Jersey in Bridgewater Township, Somerset County, resulting in the theft of over $1.6 million worth of merchandise, according to U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger.
Sekou Fofanah, 20, Shamaire Brown, 19, and Quamaire Brown, 19, all of Philadelphia, each pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler in Camden federal court to one count of conspiracy to commit cargo theft, Sellinger said.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, from January 2021 through April 2023, Fofanah, Shamaire Brown, Quamaire Brown, as well as co-defendant Aboudramane Karamoko, and others, conspired to commit burglaries of UPS facilities throughout the United States, including warehouses in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Rhode Island.
On or about June 12, 2022, the men burglarized a UPS facility located in Bridgewater Township, stealing multiple packages containing electronic products and other items. The packages arrived in New Jersey from multiple locations including California and New York, among other states, and contained electronics valued at approximately $40,100.
The four men gained access to the UPS facilities by breaking the window of the loading bay door or by prying open the loading bay door. Once inside, they sought parcels marked with “lithium-ion battery” warnings, which indicated that the packages contained high-value electronic devices such as a cell phones. Fofanah, Shamaire Brown, Quamaire Brown, admitted that they participated in the burglary of at least 55 UPS facilities and stole items valued at approximately $1.6 million.
The charge of conspiracy to commit cargo theft carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the amount of money involved in the offense, whichever is greater, Sellinger said.
The charges against Karamoko remain pending, Sellinger said.
