MINEOLA, NY – Two Pennsylvania men who posed as construction workers and stole more than $1 million in property from a Valley Stream home have been sentenced to nine years in prison.
The burglars, identified as Dejuan Michaels, 31, and Daiquan Smith, 30, were caught after taking photos of themselves posing with the stolen cash, Rolex watches, and firearms on the same day of the crime.
They each pleaded guilty in September to burglary and grand larceny charges before being sentenced in Nassau County Court this week.
Key Points
- Dejuan Michaels and Daiquan Smith sentenced to nine years in prison
- Duo stole more than $1 million in cash, watches, and firearms from Valley Stream home
- Photos of the men with stolen items helped investigators crack the case
Burglary disguised as construction work
Prosecutors said the defendants, along with co-defendant Tehron Green, 45, and a fourth unapprehended suspect, arrived at the Valley Stream home on the morning of September 23, 2023, after the homeowner left for work. Dressed in construction gear, the men broke a rear window to gain entry. Surveillance footage later showed them using a hand truck to remove two safes filled with valuables, including cash, firearms, and Rolex watches.
Investigation and digital trail
Investigators with the Nassau County Police Department’s Major Case Squad determined that Michaels had purchased the hand truck from a home improvement store in nearby Elmont during the burglary. Cellphone data later revealed photos of Michaels and Smith in a Pennsylvania warehouse posing with the stolen property — wearing the same clothes captured on surveillance video from the crime scene.
Arrests across state lines
Michaels was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service in New Castle, Delaware, on April 11, 2024, while Smith was taken into custody the same day in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Green was arrested months later, on March 5, 2025, by detectives in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
DA praises investigative work
“These defendants thought they could outsmart law enforcement, casing a Valley Stream home and posing as construction workers as a ruse to break in and steal over $1 million in property,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly. “But through terrific detective work and their own hubris, these men now find themselves heading to prison.”
Michaels and Smith were each sentenced to nine years in prison, though prosecutors had sought 12. Green, who also pleaded guilty to burglary and grand larceny, is scheduled to be sentenced on December 3.