1 Photo
Jamal Johns
A third defendant in the five-person swarm, snatch and run theft at Balenciaga in East Hampton Village on March 3 has pleaded guilty to grand larceny and possession of stolen property, both felonies.
Jamal Johns, 26, will be sentenced to 3 ½ to 7 years in state prison on October 17 in a deal agreed to on Tuesday by Justice Anthony Senft. Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney James O’Rourke had asked for a 5-to-10-year sentence.
The haul of couture handbags stolen netted the thieves about $94,000 in property, albeit for just a few hours. The three who have pleaded guilty, along with another codefendant, Ali Harris — who is in custody, waiting for his case to be adjudicated — and a fifth, female participant who remains at large, were cornered by police several hours after the crime when their getaway vehicle broke down.
All four of those arrested were from Newark, New Jersey. Police are actively seeking the fifth suspect.
Johns also pleaded guilty Tuesday to a misdemeanor drug possession charge.
Of the four codefendants, Johns had the most extensive criminal background, with multiple prior felony convictions, as well as an open case in Manhattan.
In August, two codefendants, Baseemah Davis, 34 and Wazir Rodgers, 25, pleaded guilty to the same charges as Johns. Davis is to be sentenced to 2 to 6 years next week, while Rodgers will get 3 to 9 years when he is sentenced on October 17. The sentences were what was promised by Senft in exchange for the guilty pleas, as agreed upon between District Attorney Ray Tierney’s office and the defendants and their attorneys.
At about 1:30 in the afternoon on March 3, the female perpetrator who remains at large entered the Balenciaga store wearing a pink ski mask. The store was empty, save for her and a clerk.
She asked an employee to check to see if the store carried a shoe in her size. The moment the clerk left the storefront, the four others rushed in, doing a “snatch-and-grab” of handbags on display. The entire incident lasted about 30 seconds.
East Hampton Village Police officers took up pursuit of the Dodge Durango that the five jumped into on Newtown Lane but broke the chase off when the fleeing vehicle accelerated to speeds over 100 mph, weaving across traffic lanes on busy Montauk Highway.
A State Police trooper spotted the Durango on County Route 111, headed for Manorville and the Long Island Expressway. He pursued the vehicle but broke off highspeed pursuit when it became too dangerous for the public on the road. However, he noticed smoke was coming from the Durango and followed at a safe distance.
The Durango entered the LIE at exit 70, then left the highway one exit later, stopping on the side of the road. The four currently in custody were picked up shortly thereafter, though the fifth alluded the police search.
