Men Robbed 25 Gaming Machines At Philly-Area Convenience Stores: AG

PHILADELPHIA — Two Philadelphia men have been charged by the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office with stealing from more than two dozen gaming machines at convenience stores in the region.

Attorney General Josh Shapiro said Brandyn Warren and Antoine Laster, both of Philadelphia, have been charged for their involvement in the robbery of 25 Pennsylvania Skill gaming machines in gas stations and 7-Elevens in the Philadelphia area.

While executing search warrants, agents from the Office of Attorney General’s Gaming Division seized five firearms, an ATM, and cash.

"These men conspired together to steal over $100,000, which they used to purchase numerous firearms," said AG Shapiro. "My office will not tolerate this kind of blatant theft and violence, and will hold these defendants accountable for their crimes."

A six-month investigation by the Office of Attorney General revealed that in instance, Warren, Laster, and their co-conspirators used the same common scheme to steal from the gaming machines.

Authorities said, while wearing masks, hoods, and gloves, they went into gas stations or convenience and used sledgehammers, pry bars, and other tools to break open the machines and steal the cash that was inside.

The robberies resulted in a loss of more than $125,000, and damage in excess of $114,000, the AG's office said.

The gaming machines, found in gas stations and convenience stores across the state, are similar to gambling machines and offer users a chance to win cash prizes while playing.

Each machine contains cash boxes within, and some locations also have redemption machines that dispense cash to winners.

The legality of these machines is currently being litigated in two cases pending before the Commonwealth Court.

Warren was charged with one count of corrupt organizations, 14 counts of robbery, 14 counts of conspiracy to commit robbery, 13 counts of possession of an instrument of crime, 13 counts of theft, 14 counts of simple assault, 14 counts of conspiracy to commit theft, one count of attempted theft, 14 counts of conspiracy to commit simple assault, one count of theft, and one count of conspiracy to commit theft.

Laster was charged with one count of corrupt organizations, eight counts of robbery, eight counts of conspiracy to commit robbery, eight counts of possession of an instrument of crime, seven counts of theft, seven counts of simple assault, eight counts of conspiracy to commit theft, seven counts of conspiracy to commit simple assault, one count of theft, one count of conspiracy to commit theft, one count of attempted robbery, and two counts of attempted theft.

The Office of Attorney General’s Gaming Division was assisted in this investigation by the Office of Attorney General’s Gun Violence Task Force unit, the Philadelphia Police Department, the Springfield Township Police Department, the Hilltown Township Police Department, the Lansdale Police Department, the Upper Dublin Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol Firearms and Tobacco.