Man Charged in Connection with 2010 Burglary of ECMC

A Minneapolis man was charged in connection with the burglary of Oakdale’s Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC) in March of 2010.

Shunte Milton Smith, 34, allegedly participated in the theft of two safes from the company, which at the time set off identity theft concerns because there were 650 CDs inside the safes thought to contain banking information for approximately 3.2 million people who had applied for federal student loans, according to the Washington County District Court complaint.

Because of the potential impact of the theft, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigations worked with the Oakdale Police Department on the case, the complaint says.

Smith told a BCA agent that he was paid $100 plus the cost of gas to use his aunt's van to assist in the burglary that took place March 21, 2010, the complaint says.

He picked up two other men in the van, and they drove to ECMC to steal two safes, he said, according to the complaint.

One of the other men knew an employee there who helped them gain access to the building. They went inside, and then came out a short time later with two safes on rolling chairs, he told police, according to the complaint. Then, he said, they loaded the safes into the van and drove off, the complaint says.

Another man involved with the theft told police they thought the safes contained cash, and were disappointed to find only CDs inside, according to the complaint. He said they discarded the safes in a Minneapolis Dumpster.

Smith is charged with third-degree burglary, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and $10,000 in fines.

He made his first appearance in court April 27.

Two other men were previously charged in connection with the burglary. Henry Newsom, 35, of Minneapolis was convicted Feb. 15 of third-degree burglary. Aaron L. Nakao, 33, of Minneapolis was also charged in connection with the incident, according to Oakdale police.