Family-Run Crime Theft Ring Busted In Franklin

FRANKLIN, NJ — A family-run crime theft ring was busted in Franklin Township following a seven-month investigation where a brother and sister were knowingly buying stolen merchandise from shoplifters and then reselling it at their store.

The investigation revealed the six people were knowingly buying stolen merchandise from shoplifters who targeted stores such as Home Depot, Lowes, Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, Wawa, Stop & Shop and Walmart.

The shoplifters would exchange the stolen merchandise for cash at Everything Wireless, located at 665 Hamilton St. in Franklin Township where the stolen merchandise was resold to the public at the store or over the internet, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson reported.

Brother and sister David Rubin, 59, of Aldeburgh Avenue, Somerset and Sheryllee Rubin, 58, of Easton Avenue, Somerset were allegedly the ring leaders who also had David's daughter Batsheva Rubin-Rivera, 23, of Sandford Street, New Brunswick and his wife Lisa Rubin, 54, of Aldeburgh Avenue, Somerset involved, Robertson reported.

Employees of David and Sheryllee Rubin, Andre Watts, 29, of Wilson Street, North Brunswick and Dunia Patricia Hernandez, 31 of Luis Street in Somerset were also charged in connection with the ring.

On June 4, search warrants were executed at Everything Wireless and the store owner's home, David Rubin. The search found numerous items of suspected stolen retail merchandise, valued in excess of $14,000, Robertson said.

The owners of Everything Wireless, David Rubin and Sheryllee Rubin were arrested and charged with second-degree leader of an organized retail theft enterprise and second-degree leader of organized crime racketeering.

Four employees of Everything Wireless: Lisa Rubin, Batsheva Rubin-Rivera, Andre Watts, and Dunia Patricia Hernandez were also arrested and charged with third-degree receiving stolen property and third-degree dealing in stolen property.

They were all released on their own recognizance pending a Somerset County Superior Court appearance in Somerville.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Burglary Task Force Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department at 732-873-5533 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS
(8477) or online at www.888577tips.org or at www.scpo.net and click on either “Crime Stoppers” or “TIPS HOTLINE”. All anonymous Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

(Images via Somerset County Prosecutor's Office: Clockwise from top left - David Rubin, 59, of Aldeburgh Avenue, Somerset; Sheryllee Rubin, 58, of Easton Avenue, Somerset; Lisa Rubin, 54, of Aldeburgh Avenue, Somerset; Andre Watts, 29, of Wilson Street, North Brunswick; Dunia Patricia Hernandez, 31 of Luis Street in Somerset; and Batsheva Rubin-Rivera, 23, of Sandford Street, New Brunswick)

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