Jail Time For Ringleader Of South Jersey Theft Ring: FBI

MOORESTOWN, NJ — The ringleader of an operation that stole high-end clothing and jewelry from South Jersey stores and resold it in Philadelphia has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, authorities announced.

Louis Mathis, 49, of Philadelphia, previously pleaded guilty to federal charges arising from a series of robberies, burglaries, and thefts of department stores in Philadelphia and its surrounding counties in Pennsylvania and New Jersey in 2016, according to U.S. Attorney William McSwain.

Hasan Knight also pleaded guilty to the same charges and awaits sentencing, according to authorities.

The men and their accomplices stole high-end clothing and jewelry from stores in South Jersey and used stolen cars to take the merchandise to Philadelphia. Mathis, the leader of this crew of thieves, then fenced the stolen items to shops on Jewelers’ Row and South Street in Philadelphia and to designer clothing sellers.

In one incident, they stole more than $5,000 in clothing from Ralph Lauren Polo in the Moorestown Mall, according to the Courier Post.

“Mathis and his accomplices thought they could make a quick buck by victimizing legitimate businesses and passing off the stolen goods as their own,” McSwain said. “They were wrong. We will aggressively use all available tools at the federal level to protect businesses and their employees against this type of predation and to keep the community safe.”

“This smash-and-grab crew got bolder as it went along — from overnight break-ins to brazen robberies during business hours that terrified employees and patrons,” said Michael T. Harpster, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “They looted these places, fenced the stolen goods, and pocketed the illegal proceeds. In the end, though, crime doesn’t pay, and has instead led to an extended stay in federal prison. The FBI Violent Crimes Task Force is gratified to see Mathis and his criminal crew off the street.”

Mathis is also subject to three years of supervised release and must pay $398,960 in restitution.