Store Owner Pleads Guilty To Accepting Stolen Merch From Robbery Crew

SAN DIEGO, CA — A San Diego County store owner pleaded guilty Thursday to accepting stolen merchandise that was taken from other stores.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said Adde Munin Adde received stolen cellphones, tablets and other items from co-defendants who committed a string of robberies in early 2020.

Prosecutors say that between Jan. 14 and Feb. 1 of that year, nearly a dozen robberies and attempted robberies were committed at telecommunication stores like Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile, where suspects stole cell phones, tablets and other electronic devices. The robbers were armed with what appeared to be actual firearms during the hold-ups, but turned out to be BB guns.

Six other defendants have been convicted for the robbery spree, five of whom have been sentenced thus far.

Adde pleaded guilty to three federal counts of interstate transportation of stolen property on Thursday and agreed to pay nearly $60,000 in restitution. The U.S. Attorney's Office did not identify what store Adde owned, nor where it was located in the county.

"Owners of pawn shops and those who sell cell phones, jewelry and other commonly stolen items should take notice of this conviction," said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. "When you buy stolen merchandise, you create a market for those who obtain the merchandise through violent means."

— City News Service