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Press Release

Head Of Jewelry Store Kidnapping Conspiracy Sentenced

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania

PHILADELPHIA - Salahudin Shaheed, 35, of Philadelphia, PA, was sentenced today to 365 months in prison for his role in an attempted robbery of a center city jewelry store, in which an employee of the store was kidnapped.  Shaheed pleaded guilty, October 7, 2015, to conspiracy, kidnapping, and attempted Hobbs Act robbery. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Harvey Bartle III ordered restitution in the amount of $9,983.97, five years of supervised release and a $300 special assessment.

 

Shaheed recruited defendants Khayree Gay and Basil Buie, a/k/a “Basil Tucker,” to rob National Watch and Diamond Exchange, at 101 S. 8th Street in Philadelphia to obtain luxury watches, jewelry, and money which Shaheed said could be found there.  The defendants conducted surveillance of National Watch and its employees from a parking lot at 733 Chestnut Street, to identify and then, in disguise, abduct an employee from whom they would forcibly obtain keys, security codes, and the code to the company’s safe from which the robbers would steal luxury watches, jewelry, and money.

 

On April 4, 2015, the defendants watched an employee that Shaheed had targeted.  When the employee entered the garage and approached her car, Shaheed and Buie, wearing masks, gloves, and sunglasses, confronted the victim, Shaheed assaulted her with a Taser, and she was forced into a van.  She was beaten over a several hour period, while the defendants drove to various locations.  Buie, was sentenced to 15 years in prison; Gay is awaiting sentencing.

 

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jeanine Linehan and Maureen McCartney.

Updated February 5, 2016

Topic
Violent Crime