Six people from Washington, D.C., and Maryland have been charged in connection with a multi-state burglary ring that targeted consignment shops in Roxbury Township, Morris County; Watchung Borough, Somerset County; and Branchville Borough, Sussex County, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba said.
Marco Honesty, 28; Richard Francis, 35; Dominique Hayes, 29; Deandre Dudley, 32; Ilon Coles-Melson, 21; and Marcus Gallmon, 21, are all charged with one count of conspiracy to transport and sell stolen property across state lines, according to a federal complaint.
According to court documents and statements, the group is accused of perpetrating at least 18 commercial burglaries between March and November 2024 across New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware. The suspects allegedly used sledgehammers and other equipment to break into shops overnight, stealing expensive handbags and other high-value items before transferring them across state lines.
The lawsuit describes several burglaries in New Jersey, including three in Roxbury, one in Watchung, and one in Branchville:
Roxbury (Morris County) – The consignment store was burglarized three times:
- On March 20, 2024, suspects used force to break in during early morning hours and stole luxury items.
- On March 26, 2024, the same store was targeted again, with evidence linking the defendants to the scene.
- On June 18, 2024, a third break-in occurred. Investigators matched vehicle tracking and digital evidence to the suspects.
- Watchung (Somerset County) – On March 11, 2024, a burglary took place at a designer resale shop, with suspects forcibly entering and stealing numerous high-value handbags.
- Branchville (Sussex County) – On April 14, 2024, a consignment boutique was broken into, with stolen merchandise valued in the tens of thousands. Phone location data linked the defendants to the area.
The accused were caught and arraigned in federal court in Newark on various days between February and June 2025. Honesty, Hayes, and Coles-Melson were held after their appearances, while Dudley, Gallmon, and Francis were freed on $100,000 unsecured bonds.
The accusation of conspiracy to sell or receive stolen property carries a possible five-year jail sentence and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the value of the property involved, whichever is larger.
Anyone with knowledge about the theft ring or who suspects they are a victim should contact Homeland Security Investigations at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or a local field office.
