A man from Pennsylvania has received a sentence for his role in a plot to burglarize around 55 UPS warehouses. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey made the announcement on February 13th.
Aboudramane Karamoko, a 21-year-old resident of Philadelphia, has been sentenced to 39 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. The sentencing took place in Camden federal court on February 13. Three other individuals from Philadelphia have previously received their sentences: Sekou Fofanah, aged 20, was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment, along with three years of supervised release; Shamaire Brown, aged 19, also received a sentence of 24 months imprisonment, accompanied by three years of supervised release; and Quamaire Brown, aged 19, was sentenced to 33 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.
Ricky J. Patel, the Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, emphasized the successful collaboration with various agencies across the country in achieving justice for the stolen merchandise valued at over $1.6 million. He highlighted the importance of utilizing all available investigative resources to protect the United States’ interstate and international commerce, as well as the overall supply chain of the nation.
The court has directed the four defendants to compensate a total of $1,600,157 in restitution.
From January 2021 to April 2023, Fofanah, Brown, Brown, Karamoko, and their accomplices colluded to carry out burglaries at UPS facilities in different states, including New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Rhode Island. Their method of entry involved breaking or prying open the loading bay doors, specifically targeting parcels labeled with “lithium-ion battery” warnings, which typically contained valuable electronic devices like cell phones.
Multiple agencies, including HSI offices in Philadelphia and State College, as well as law enforcement agencies across New Jersey such as the New Jersey State Police and South Brunswick Police Department, supported ICE HSI Newark in this investigation. In Pennsylvania, assistance came from entities like the Pennsylvania State Police and Centre County District Attorney’s Office, among others. The New York State Police and Warwick Police Department in Rhode Island also contributed, along with Michigan’s Livonia Police Department, among others.
