On 6/19/2024, at 1:30 p.m., two male subjects entered a jewelry store. One subject requested to view gold chains. Once the chain was handed to the subject, the subject tried on the necklace and requested to view a gold bracelet. Once it was handed to him, both subjects smiled and waved goodbye as they walked out of the store, with the first subject being in possession of both items.
Both subjects are Black, with thin builds and in their late 20’s to early 30’s. The first subject was last seen wearing a camo trucker hat, black Adidas t-shirt, camo pants, and black shoes. He is between 5″10″ and 6’0″. The second subject is between 6’0″ and 6’2″. He was last seen wearing a red/black hat, grey Nike t-shirt, blue jeans, and black shoes with white soles. If you have any information regarding these subjects, please contact the Jewelers Security Alliance at 212-687-0328 or jsa2@jewelersseecurity.org.
On 6/12/2024, at approximately 7:00 p.m. before closing, a male subject entered a jewelry store and expressed interest in gold chains and pendants. While working with two team members, the subject requested to view a gold chain and pendant. One of the sales associates came around to the other side of the showcase, while the other sales associate continued to work with the subject. The sales associate had placed the gold chain pendant on a presentation pad.
After the subject requested assistance in trying on the combination and was denied, he grabbed both items and fled from the store. The subject was described as a Black male in his mid to late 30’s. He is 5’6″ and has a thin build and black hair. He was last seen wearing black sunglasses, a white/yellow Ramen noodle hooded sweatshirt, black shorts, and black/white/orange/pink shoes. If you have any information regarding this subject, please contact the Jewelers Security Alliance at 212-687-0328 or jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org.
On 6/6/2024, at approximately 2:15 p.m., a male subject entered a jewelry store and expressed interest in gold chains. He was then taken to the gold case and shown several gold chains. The sales associate had 2 to 3 chains out at at a time and displayed them on a counter pad. While the sales associate was putting chains back in the case the subject held one. While the associate’s back was turned, the subject slipped the chain into his pocket. The sales associate inquired as to what happened to the chain. The subject then said he did not know, and that he had given them all back and didn’t have anything.
He stood there and talked to the team member for a few minutes while she looked for the chain, then left. After reviewing the video, it was determined that the guest had taken the chain. The subject was described as a Black male in his mid 30’s. He is 5’7†and was last seen wearing a yellow shirt and purple ball cap. If you have any information regarding this subject, please contact the Jewelers’ Security Alliance at jsa2@jewelerssecurty.org .
On 6/5/2024, at approximately 3:50 p.m., a male subject expressed interest in gold chains and gold pendants. The subject browsed through several items, then said he would return to the store later. Shortly thereafter, the subject returned to the store with an unknown male subject. The subject requested to see a gold chain with a gold pendant. When the subject was told he could only view one item at a time, the subject held the gold chain and talked with the other unknown male, before running from the location with the gold chain. The second subject realized he had left, and quickly followed.
A single description of the male subject was provided: Black, 6’0″, thin build, black hair, white hat with red brim, black t-shirt, and black pants. If you have any information regarding this subject, please contact the Jewelers Security Alliance at jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org or 212-687-0328
On 5/28/2024, at 11:57 a.m., a female subject stopped at a jewelry kiosk inside of a mall and asked about gold chains, and then asked to see a particular chain. Once the chain was presented, the subject asked about another chain. As the sales associate was looking into the showcase, she observed the subject slide her hand down with the chain and place it in her pocket. The sales associate then immediately asked the subject for the chain. The subject replied, “I gave it back to you. You can call Mall Security.”
As soon as the team member picked up her phone to call Mall Security, the subject ran from the store and through the Food Court Exit. The subject’s car was identified as a red Toyota Corolla with a Florida license plate. The subject was described as Black and in her late 40’s. She is 5’4″ and thin. She has black hair down to her shoulders, and she was last seen wearing a white tank top, jeans shorts, and flip flops. She also carried two handbags. If you have any information regarding this subject, please contact the Jewelers Security Alliance at jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org or 212-687-0328.
On 5/10/2024, 39-year-old Aaron Smalls was charged with stealing from six jewelry stores over the past year. Between December 2023 and February 2024, Smalls committed thefts at 6 stores. He was linked to a six figure theft of jewelry from a store dating back to 2021 via DNA evidence. Click here to read more about Smalls.
On 5/8/2024, at 3:20 p.m., a retail jewelry store was the victim of a grab and run theft. A lone male subject entered the store and looked at several items. He stated he was looking for something to go with his watch. After looking at several items, the male asked to see a ring. Once it was removed from the showcase, the male took possession of it, and fled from the store.
Subject Description: Male, Black, 5’09”, thin build, late 20’s to early 30’s, wearing a white shirt, and black shorts. If you have any information regarding this subject, please contact the Jewelers Security Alliance at jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org or 212-687-0328.
On the 5/7/2024, at1:20 p.m., a jewelry store was the victim of a grab and run theft.� A lone male entered the location and began looking a diamond rings.� The male stated he was shopping for his girlfriend.� The male asked to see an item which was a Neil Lane Bridal Diamond Ring.� A profile was created, and the male provided the name Christopher.� Shortly after, the item was removed from the showcase.� The male gained possession of the item, stated “she’s gonna love this†and then ran out of the store.�
Subject Description:� Male, Black, late 20’s to early 30’s, 5’09â€Â, wearing an Atlanta Hawks #21 Jersey, and black shorts. If you have any information regarding this subject, please contact the Jewelers Security Alliance at jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org or 212-687-0328.
On 5/4/2024, at approximately 3:20 p.m., a male subject entered a retail jewelry store and expressed interest in gold chains and gold bracelets. The subject requested to see multiple items, but was only shown one at a time. He requested to view a chain, which was a 24″ Men’s 10K Yellow Gold 10.33 MM solid Curb Chain Necklace. Once it was presented to him, the subject grabbed the chain and fled from the store.
The subject was described as a Black male in his early to mid 20’s. He is approximately 5’9″ and has a thin build, and black hair. He was last seen wearing a yellow gold chain, a black jacket, a black t-shirt, blue jeans, and white shoes. He also has a scar on his forehead.
If you have any information regarding this subject, please contact the Jewelers’ Security Alliance at jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org or 212-687-0328.
OAKLAND, CA �” April 30, 2024 – A federal grand jury has handed down a superseding indictment alleging Jakari Jenkins, Demarco Barnett, Garland Rabon, and Keanna Smith-Stewart conspired with each other, and other members of an Oakland-based street gang, to rob several San Francisco Bay Area businesses, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBIâ€Â) Special Agent in Charge Robert K Tripp. The superseding indictment, filed April 18, 2024, was unsealed last Friday at an initial appearance by defendant Rabon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore. The final defendant to appear in court, Ms. Smith-Stewart, made her initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Westmore earlier today.
The superseding indictment alleges that by March of 2022, the four defendants were all members of, or had association with, an Oakland-based street gang called the Ghost Town gang. The indictment describes a series of armed robberies and burglaries that were committed by groups of co-conspirators.
The first robbery described in the superseding indictment involved Barnett and Jenkins, who along with other members of the gang carried out the armed robbery of a coin and stamp store located on the 10th floor of a building in the South of Market neighborhood of San Francisco. As part of the plan, members of the conspiracy allegedly rented a car to be used as a getaway car. In addition, members of the conspiracy stole a license plate to be used on the getaway car and met additional members of the conspiracy at the Oakland residence of another gang member. On March 18, 2022, the day of the robbery, Barnett, Jenkins, and at least two additional unnamed co-conspirators entered the store, brandished firearms, and demanded money from the business and the two individuals who happened to be present at the time�” the owner and his son. The robbers struck the head and zip-tied the hands of the owner’s son, and absconded with cash, jewelry, and coins having an aggregate value of more than $300,000.
The second armed robbery described in the superseding indictment occurred approximately eight months later. As a prelude to the second robbery, members of the conspiracy pretended to be customers of a jewelry store in San Pablo. The pretend customers left jewelry with the operators of the store. According to the indictment, Jenkins, Barnett, and Rabon arrived at the jewelry store on November 12, 2022, with at least four other co-conspirators and robbed the store of jewelry, including the jewelry that members of the gang previously had left with the store. The robbers arrived in two getaway cars�”both Dodge Chargers bearing stolen license plates. Five co-conspirators, at least three of whom were brandishing firearms, entered the store while two of the co-conspirators waited outside in the getaway cars. The co-conspirators stole bags of jewelry valued at approximately $300,000 to $500,000. The indictment describes how all four defendants in the superseding indictment later wore the stolen jewelry, shared the stolen jewelry with other members of Ghost Town gang members, or otherwise made use of the stolen jewelry for their personal purposes.
The superseding indictment also describes the November 24, 2022, burglary of an Audi dealership in Oakland. Specifically, the indictment describes how days before the robbery, Smith-Stewart allegedly purchased a black Audi S5 from the dealership using a fake driver’s license and another person’s social security number. After providing a down payment of approximately $9,500 toward the purchase of the car, Jenkins, Barnett, and another unindicted co-conspirator burglarized the dealership and stole the safe containing the down payment that Smith-Stewart previously had submitted.
Finally, the superseding indictment describes the Christmas Eve, 2022, armed robbery of a marijuana business in Oakland and one of its employees. The superseding indictment describes how the worker was leaving the business when Jenkins, Barnett, Rabon, and Smith-Stewart, along with at least four other co-conspirators, arrived at the marijuana business in two getaway cars. The robbers brandished weapons, directed the worker back into the building, and demanded “budded weed†and “money.†One of the robbers struck the worker in the head with a firearm. The robbers searched through the worker’s pockets and stole his bank debit card. The robbers absconded with the victim’s debit card and a bag of marijuana plant trimmings. The superseding indictment describes how on December 26, 2022, Smith-Stewart allegedly used the victim’s debit card at Westfield Mall in San Francisco to purchase more than $1,000 worth of items at Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom.
In sum, the defendants are charged with the following crimes:
Defendant
Charge
Maximum Statutory Sentence, If Convicted
ALL DEFENDANTS(one count each)
18 U.S.C. § 1951(a) Conspiracy to Engage in Robbery Affecting Interstate Commerce(Hobbs Act Robbery)
– Imprisonment: 20 years– Fine: $250,000– Supervised Release: 3 years– Special Assessment: $100 per count– Forfeiture– Restitution
In addition, as part of any sentence, the court may order additional fines; restitution, if appropriate; and an additional term of supervised release to begin after any prison. Nevertheless, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Defendants Jenkins and Barnett are in custody and are scheduled to make the next appearance before the Honorable U.S. District Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin on July 15, 2024, in Oakland. Defendants Rabon and Smith-Stewart are in custody and scheduled to appear before Chief Magistrate Judge Ryu on May 1, 2024.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Harding and Jonathan Lee, with the assistance of Yenni Weinberg and Erick Machado. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, with assistance from the police departments of Oakland, San Francisco, and San Pablo.
