XPost: alt.fan.rush-limbaugh, mn.politics, misc.phone.mobile.iphone   
   XPost: talk.politics.guns, sac.politics   
   From: democrat-pussy@minnesota.guv   
      
   A Minneapolis man is the latest person to be charged in a "cell phone theft   
   ring" that has been plaguing the downtown night-life scene since last year.   
      
   Ryan Edward Matthews, 34, is accused of approaching a man outside Cowboy   
   Jack's on the night of June 28, and with the help of at least one   
   co-defendant, taking the man's phone by force.   
      
   According to a criminal complaint, Matthews and another suspect approached the   
   victim and asked to use his phone. The man complied, unlocked his phone and   
   handed it to Matthews, at which point he was punched in the face, "causing a   
   black eye and a cut."   
      
   "Victim followed (the suspects) and tried to get his phone back but stopped   
   when he realized it was not worth being assaulted again," the charges say.   
      
   The victim later learned of "several fraudulent transactions" where money was   
   transferred from his bank account to a number of CashApp recipients as well as   
   a Venmo account.   
      
   All together, the fraudulent transfers amounted to more than $1,500.   
      
   The charges say investigators tracked down Matthews as well as a co-defendant   
   using surveillance video, later learning that Matthews was involved in two   
   "similar phone robberies" outside Sneaky Pete's, also in downtown Minneapolis.   
      
   He is one of 12 people to be charged over their involvement in this "criminal   
   organization," the charges note. He's currently in custody, with prosecutors   
   having recommended a high bail as he "would pose a significant risk to the   
   public."   
      
   Matthews is charged with first-degree aggravated robbery as well as one count   
   of "financial transaction card fraud," both felonies. He's facing up to 25   
   years in prison if convicted.   
      
   The Cowboy Jack's robbery follows the pattern of a number of other such   
   incidents. Prosecutors say the method of robbery "entails a defendant   
   approaching the victim (who is often under the influence of alcohol) in a   
   friendly manner and asking the victim    
   for their phone so they can add themselves to a social media platform" —   
   with the perpetrator making sure the victim unlocks their phone.   
      
   "A co-defendant then distracts the victim with conversation as the phone is   
   handed off to another person," the criminal complaint notes. "Often, as this   
   is happening, another co-defendant stands by in case a physical altercation   
   ensues.   
      
   In other cases, the suspects take the phones by force or intimidation.   
      
   Earlier this year, the purported leader of the theft ring pleaded guilty to   
   racketeering. At the time of the plea, the scheme had resulted in almost   
   $160,000 in actual cash being stolen, along with more than $85,000 in   
   cryptocurrency.   
      
   The value of the stolen phones was estimated to be over $25,000.   
      
   https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-news/another-man-charged-in   
   downtown-minneapolis-cell-phone-theft-ring   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)