Minneapolis Thieves Targeted Intoxicated People, Stole Crypto: Charges

MINNEAPOLIS — Twelve people have been charged in a "highly organized" criminal scheme that was set up to steal money from intoxicated people in downtown Minneapolis after bar close, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office announced Tuesday.

The defendants stole about $160,000 in cash and about $85,000 in cryptocurrency, according to authorities. They also stole the phones themselves, which all together are valued at more than $25,000, investigators said.

The charges were brought as racketeering (RICO) crimes, which are filed in cases of suspected organized crime.

The 12 people facing charges are:

• Aaron Johnson, 25, of Saint Paul.
• Sharlotte Green, 21, of Saint Paul.
• Charlie Pryor Jr., 18, of Saint Paul.
• Charlie Pryor Sr., 41, of Saint Paul.
• Lawrence Miles, 22, of Bloomington.
• Heiron Birts, 26, of Minneapolis.
• Alfonze Stuckey, 23, of Saint Paul.
• Sherrod Lamar, 23, of Saint Paul.
• Emarion White, 18, of Saint Paul.
• Antonio Green, 19, of Saint Paul.
• David Mullins, 26, of Minneapolis.
• Zhongshuang Su, "Brandon Su," of Minneapolis.

Between June 2021 and May 2022, the 12 people operated as an enterprise to systematically steal cell phones, fraudulently transfer funds from victims' phones, and then sell the stolen cell phones locally and internationally, according to authorities.

The defendants sometimes stole phones using force, but not always, investigators said. Sometimes, they would approach people in a friendly manner and ask the them for their phone so that they could add themselves to a social media platform, according to authorities.

After the victims unlocked their phone, the defendants would transfer money away from the victim's accounts using payment services such as Venmo, Zelle, and Coinbase, investigators said.

Stolen phones were given to Mr. Su, also known as "the iPhone Man," who would sell the phones in Minneapolis and in China, according to authorities.

Close to 50 shipments of phones were sent to Hong Kong, and another 30 shipments were sent to a Minneapolis hotpot restaurant where Mr. Su works, investigators said.