Philadelphia Man Indicted for Rash of Cell Phone Store Robberies

PHILADELPHIA – U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain announced today that Malcolm Xavier Taylor, 26, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a grand jury with four counts of robbery which interferes with interstate commerce, and use and carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

The defendant is alleged to have committed a string of robberies of cell phone stores in Philadelphia, robbing four different stores over a three-week time period in November and December 2017.  During all four incidents, he brandished a firearm and threatened to shoot store employees.  In total, the defendant stole over a hundred cell phones and cash.

“The complete disregard for others’ safety that Taylor is accused of is appalling,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “The employees of these stores were simply doing their jobs, while the defendant terrorized them so that he could make a buck off of stolen cell phones. The streets are safer now that Taylor will have to answer these charges.”

“ATF’s primary mission is to combat violent crime and this investigation is a clear statement of our resolve to accomplish this mission,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald Robinson. “This indictment of Malcolm Taylor sends a clear message that ATF and its law enforcement partners will not allow violent criminals to continue victimizing our communities and neighborhoods”

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment and a mandatory minimum of five years’ imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the Bureau for Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Priya T. De Souza.

An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.