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Press Release

Members Of The Mustafa Organization Plead Guilty To Conspiracy And Related Charges In Connection With The Theft Of $20 Million Worth Of Cell Phones And Electronic Devices

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Minnesota
Eight defendants pleaded guilty this week

United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger today announced that 20 defendants charged in a conspiracy to traffic stolen cellular phones and other electronic devices have pleaded guilty. The Mustafa Organization, a Twin Cities-based criminal organization, was indicted for trafficking stolen and fraudulently obtained mobile telephones and tablets. Twenty of the 21 defendants have now entered guilty pleas before Judge John R. Tunheim in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minn. The final two of those defendants, MILES and AL HUSSAINAWEE pleaded guilty late yesterday afternoon. A sentencing date has not been set for MILES and AL HUSSAINAWEE.

According to the defendants’ guilty pleas and documents filed in court, from at least 2006 through 2014, members of the Mustafa family and their associates used stolen identity information and other criminal means to obtain at least $20 million worth of cellular telephones and other mobile devices for the purpose of trafficking them throughout the United States and overseas. The six Mustafa brothers owned and operated 13 mobile device stores in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, which were used to buy illegally obtained mobile devices. Members of the Mustafa Organization paid runners to steal mobile devices or obtain them fraudulently using stolen identification documents. They re-sold the stolen phones and tablets for substantial profits that were then distributed among themselves and used to pay for rent, utilities, payroll and other expenses to keep their stores in business and promote the unlawful activity.

According to the defendants’ guilty pleas and documents filed in court, members of the Mustafa Organization also falsified loan applications and provided false documentation to get loans for vehicles that they used to transport stolen devices and the proceeds of their criminal activity. The members of the Mustafa Organization also made fraudulent credit card transactions to steal from credit card processing companies and used the proceeds to buy more cell phones, and to pay operating expenses for the wireless stores and for personal use.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven Schleicher, John Marti, and Karen Schommer are handling the prosecution of this case.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the St. Paul Police Department, United States Secret Service, University of Minnesota Police Department, Minnesota Department of Public Safety and Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Minnesota Financial Crimes Task Force, United States Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations, Edina Police Department, Minneapolis Police Department, Plymouth Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Marshal’s Service.


Defendant Information:

JAMAL TALAL MUSTAFA, a/k/a “Jimmy,” 42
Apple Valley, Minn.

Convicted:
• Conspiracy to Engage in Interstate Transportation of Stolen Goods, 1 count
• Conspiracy to Defraud the Government With Respect to Claims, 1 count

NASER MOHAMAD MUSTAFA, a/k/a “Nasty Nas,” 24
Rosemount, Minn.

Convicted:
• Conspiracy to Engage in Interstate Transportation of Stolen Goods, 1 count

EDWAN T MUSTAFA, a/k/a “Eddy,” 40
Apple Valley, Minn.

Convicted:
• Conspiracy to Engage in Interstate Transportation of Stolen Goods, 1 count
• False, Fictitious, or Fraudulent Claims, 1 count

NIZER M MUSTAFA, a/k/a “Shaggy,” a/k/a “Mike,” 36
Savage, Minn.

Convicted:
• Conspiracy to Engage in Interstate Transportation of Stolen Goods, 1 count
• Conspiracy to Defraud the Government With Respect to Claims, 1 count

BILAL MUHAMMED MUSTAFA, a/k/a “Billy,” 30
Minneapolis, Minn.

Convicted:
• Conspiracy to Engage in Interstate Transportation of Stolen Goods, 1 count
• False, Fictitious, or Fraudulent Claims, 1 count

TALAL M MUSTAFA, a/k/a “Tommy,” 43
Burnsville, Minn.

Convicted:
• Conspiracy to Engage in Interstate Transportation of Stolen Goods and Access Device Fraud, 1 count
• False, Fictitious, or Fraudulent Claims, 1 count

MOISES NAVARRO CAZALES, 22
Bloomington, Minn.

Convicted:
• Conspiracy to Engage in Interstate Transportation of Stolen Goods, 1 count
• False, Fictitious, or Fraudulent Claims, 1 count

AHMED RD SUNOQROT, a/k/a “Abu Hasan,” 59
St. Paul, Minn.

Convicted:
• Conspiracy to Engage in Interstate Transportation of Stolen Goods, 1 count

CEDRIC CHAPPELL, 44
Minneapolis, Minn.

Convicted:
• Conspiracy to Engage in Interstate Transportation of Stolen Goods, 1 count

DEANTRE RICKEY-RENE SQUALLS, 24
Brooklyn Center, Minn.

Convicted:
• Conspiracy to Engage in Interstate Transportation of Stolen Goods, 1 count
• Felon in Possession of a Firearm, 2 counts

BLANYON TOE DAVIES, 21
Unknown

Convicted:
• Conspiracy to Engage in Interstate Transportation of Stolen Goods, 1 count

VICTOR TOMBEKAI DOE, 24
Unknown

Convicted:
• Conspiracy to Engage in Interstate Transportation of Stolen Goods, 1 count

YOLANDA COOMBS, 28
Oakdale, Minn.

Convicted:
• Conspiracy to Engage in Interstate Transportation of Stolen Goods, 1 count

CASWANA MILES, 26
Unknown

Convicted:
• Conspiracy to Engage in Interstate Transportation of Stolen Goods, 1 count

TIARA LIGON
St. Paul, Minn.

Convicted:
• Conspiracy to Engage in Interstate Transportation of Stolen Goods, 1 count

MARQUIS TERELL MAGGIESFIELD, a/k/a “Kenny,” 28
Unknown

Convicted:
• Conspiracy to Engage in Interstate Transportation of Stolen Goods, 1 count

MARCUS PHILLIP COLEMAN, 23
St. Paul, Minn.

Convicted:
• Conspiracy to Engage in Interstate Transportation of Stolen Goods, 1 count

ROBERT RICHARD COLEMAN, 30
St. Paul, Minn.

Convicted:
• Conspiracy to Engage in Interstate Transportation of Stolen Goods, 1 count

DANIELLE YVONNE COLEMAN, 29
St. Paul, Minn.

Convicted:
• Conspiracy to Engage in Interstate Transportation of Stolen Goods, 1 count

ABBAS ATEAIA AL HUSSAINAWEE, 41
Minneapolis, Minn.

Convicted:
• Conspiracy to Engage in Interstate Transportation of Stolen Goods and Device Fraud, 1 count
• Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of a Mixture or Substance Containing Methamphetamine, 1 count

 

 

Updated April 30, 2015