Press Release  Four Arraigned in Connection With Commercial Breaking and Entering Ring Responsible for Theft of More Than $50,000, 60 Amazon Packages

Boston — Four individuals have been arraigned in connection with an ongoing investigation into a commercial breaking and entering ring responsible for the theft of more than $50,000 and 60 Amazon packages, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

In a joint operation between Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Attorney General’s Office, Brookline Police Department, Boston Police Department, Boston Regional Intelligence Center (BRIC), and with assistance from the Andover, Cambridge, Medford, Quincy, Taunton and Weymouth Police Departments, investigators arrested five individuals in connection with a commercial breaking and entering operation on December 19. 

The investigation began when Brookline Police Department investigators solicited assistance from the Boston Police Department and BRIC investigators after an early morning break-in at the Tatte bakery in Brookline in September 2017. Investigators gathered evidence from video, physical, and forensic sources linking one or more of the five defendants to highly similar break-ins and thefts of Salvatore’s Restaurant in Lawrence, Tatte in Brookline, and Wendy’s restaurants in Medford, Taunton, and Quincy from August 2016 to December 2017. Investigators also uncovered dozens of unopened Amazon packages and boxes addressed to customers in Greater Boston while searching one of the defendant’s homes pursuant to a warrant.

Jason Geddes, 30, Dharol Joyner, 34, and Daniel Vo, 23, all of Dorchester, were arraigned today in Norfolk Superior Court on the following charges in connection with a break-in and theft at a Wendy’s in Quincy on December 14:

Breaking and Entering a Building in the Nighttime (one count)
Larceny of Over $250 (one count)
Possession of Burglarious Tools (one count)
Conspiracy (one count)
Misdemeanor Wanton Destruction of Property (one count)

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. The defendants are due back in court on these cases for a pre-trial conference on August 2. Geddes was also arraigned on charges of Receiving Stolen Property and Conspiracy (one count each) in Suffolk Superior Court on June 13, and Joyner was arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court on June 28 on Larceny of Over $250 by a Single Scheme (one count) in connection with the suspected stolen Amazon packages. He is due back in court on that charge on July 18. Investigators believe Joyner stole the Amazon packages while working as a delivery contractor.

Raheem Rivera, 19, of Dorchester, was previously arraigned June 15 in Norfolk Superior Court on the same charges. Rivera pleaded not guilty and is due back for a pre-trial conference on August 2.

Additionally, Edward Nugent, 55, Weymouth has been arraigned on the following charges, including additional charges and enhancements as a Habitual Criminal Offender and Common and Notorious Thief:

In Suffolk Superior Court, June 21
Receiving Stolen Property (one count)
Conspiracy (one count)

In Bristol Superior Court, July 5
Breaking and Entering a Building in the Nighttime (one count)
Larceny of Over $250 (one count)
Possession of Burglarious Tools (one count)
Conspiracy (one count)
Misdemeanor Wanton Destruction of Property (one count)

Nugent pleaded not guilty to all charges. He will also be arraigned on additional charges in Middlesex and Norfolk Superior Courts at a later date, and he and Geddes are set to appear again in Suffolk Superior Court on August 7 for a pre-trial conference. Nugent is due back in Bristol Superior Court on August 16.

From these thefts, investigators have evidence that the perpetrators collectively stole more than $50,000 total, and in at least one instance, more than $20,000 on a single night. As part of this investigation, authorities recovered a loaded firearm, ammunition, prybars, a crowbar, a sledgehammer and other burglarious tools, clothing, thousands of dollars of 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.

This is an ongoing investigation. These charges are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Stephen Carley of the AG’s Enterprise, Major and Cyber Crimes Division. This case is being investigated by Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Attorney General’s Office, Brookline Police Department, Boston Police Department, Boston Regional Intelligence Center (BRIC), with assistance from the Andover, Cambridge, Medford, Quincy, Taunton and Weymouth Police Departments.

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