HARRISBURG, PA — Attorney General Michelle Henry has announced the arrest of three men in Philadelphia linked to the alleged theft of beef from a parked tractor-trailer. This action is part of the wider “Operation Beef Bandit” investigation, which has seen cooperation between multiple law enforcement agencies.
The arrests took place on a Tuesday morning on the 7300 block of Edmund Street, where agents from the Office of Attorney General, supported by the Philadelphia Police Department, apprehended Douglas Mathis, Jamir Scott, and Tariq Duncan. The men, all from Philadelphia, are charged with involvement in corrupt organizations, theft, and related offenses. During their court appearance, bail was set at $200,000 cash for each defendant.
The operation unfolded as the suspects allegedly broke into a locked tractor-trailer, removing approximately 1,600 pounds of beef worth $7,000. They were reportedly observed in dark attire and masks while transferring 25 cases of beef from the trailer to their van.
Attorney General Henry praised the cross-agency collaboration and the swift actions of law enforcement personnel, emphasizing the importance of cooperative investigations in preventing organized crime. “This was tenacious investigative work that involved collaboration between law enforcement agencies to stop high-value thefts from parked tractor-trailers,” stated Henry. “I commend the timely work of our Organized Crime Section who tracked this crew and, essentially, caught them in the act.”
The operation, primarily led by the New Jersey State Police, has resulted in previous arrests, and the collaborative efforts continue to yield significant outcomes. The prosecution of the case will be overseen by Senior Deputy Attorney General Helen Park from the Office of Attorney General’s Organized Crime Section.
It is crucial to note that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The ongoing investigation aims to dismantle operations involved in such thefts, ensuring the safety and economic security of commercial transport entities.
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