PHILADELPHIA, PA — Federal prosecutors unsealed charges against four Philadelphia men linked to the theft of more than 2 million dimes from a U.S. Mint tractor-trailer earlier this year. The indictment reveals that the coins, weighing six tons, were part of a larger robbery spree targeting tractor-trailers in the region.
On April 13, the truck driver, en route to Miami, parked in a lot to rest for the night. Thieves armed with bolt cutters broke into the vehicle and made off with $234,500 in dimes. Surveillance footage showed six individuals involved in the theft, all dressed in gray hoodies.
In addition to the coin theft, the robbers are also suspected of stealing frozen crab legs, shrimp, meat, beer and liquor from other tractor-trailers. The stolen dimes were later converted to cash at coin machines in Maryland and deposited in multiple suburban Philadelphia banks, according to the indictment.
The men facing charges are 25-year-old Rakiem Savage, 31-year-old Ronald Byrd, 30-year-old Haneef Palmer, and 32-year-old Malik Palmer. Charges include conspiracy, robbery, and theft of government money. Thousands of dimes were discovered scattered in the parking lot following the incident, leading authorities to believe that more than just these four men may be involved.
The indictment was unsealed Friday, paving the way for further court proceedings. It remains to be seen how these revelations will impact the ongoing investigation into the spree of robberies affecting tractor-trailers in the region.