Pennsylvania Man Charged with Transporting Stolen Electronics Across State Lines

Defendant allegedly broke into various Target stores with blow torch

BOSTON – A Pennsylvania man was charged in federal court in Worcester today in connection with transporting stolen electronics across state lines. Defendant allegedly broke into Target stores in Easton and Westborough, Mass, and in Pennsylvania and Connecticut.

Elijah Aiken, 35, of Allentown, Penn., was charged with one count of conspiring to transport stolen goods in interstate commerce and two counts of interstate transportation of stolen goods. Aiken appeared in federal court in Worcester today and was ordered detained.

From December 2014 until February 2015, Aiken allegedly conspired with others to break into numerous Target retail stores during early morning hours, usually by using portable blow torches to cut through the metal loading-dock doors at the rear of the stores. Once inside the Target stores, Aiken and his co-conspirators stole electronic devices valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars, including cellular phones and computer tablets. Aiken and his co-conspirator successfully burglarized Target stores in Easton and Westborough, Mass., as well as in Pennsylvania and Connecticut. Aiken transported the stolen electronics across state lines in order to sell them to buyers located in New York.

The charge of interstate transportation of stolen goods, provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and restitution in an amount determined by the court. The charge of conspiracy to transport stolen goods in interstate commerce, provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and restitution as determined by the court. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg A. Friedholm of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.