Judge rules for seized goods to be returned to jeweler; DA appeals
In March, the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office held a news conference to announce a website where people could search among more than 50,000 items, including jewelry, coins and silverware, to see if there were precious heirlooms or other valuables that had been stolen from them. The goods had been seized from a Philadelphia Jewelers Row businessman’s three stores and his East Norriton home.
Authorities have accused Wasim Shazad of fencing loot stolen by a sophisticated burglary ring that targeted high-end suburban homes. Shazad, 48, was arrested and charged in January with corrupt organizations, receiving stolen property, conspiracy and related offenses. He has been out on bail and is awaiting trial.
His attorney, Steven Fairlie, contends his client did not fence stolen goods and said even if a small portion of the items seized were determined to be stolen, Shazad had no knowledge that they had been. Fairlie filed a petition in Philadelphia to get the items returned to his client.
Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Tracy Brandeis-Roman sided with Fairlie a week ago, ordering the Montgomery County DA’s Office to return a vast majority of the 50,000 items, Fairlie said Thursday.
“Police still have not given the jewelry back,” Fairlie said, indicating the goods are being kept in Lower Merion.
The DA’s Office on Thursday appealed the judge’s ruling to the state Superior Court, effectively staying it.
Brandeis-Roman’s May 26 order said all items were to be returned to Shazad’s company except for goods already claimed and identified by the rightful owners.
Kate Delano, spokeswoman for the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, said Friday the office would not say how many of the 50,000 items have so far been rightfully claimed by others because the office is still in the process of identifying other victims.
In an emailed statement, First Assistant District Attorney Ed McCann said: “We strongly disagree with the judge’s ruling … The jewelry was lawfully seized pursuant to a valid search warrant, supported by probable cause” and authorized by a Philadelphia judge.
“As part of this ongoing investigation, law enforcement is continuing to identify stolen jewelry in Mr. Shazad’s possession and the victims to whom the jewelry rightfully belongs,” the statement said. “Since we first publicized photos of the jewelry, we have identified a large number of stolen items from dozens of burglaries. That process is continuing and potential victims have appointments to inspect the seized jewelry well into June.”
Added McCann: “Items that have been identified as unlikely to have been stolen have already been returned to Mr. Shazad.”
Fairlie contends authorities did not have probable cause to seize most of the 50,000 items taken. The DA’s Office disputes that.
Shazad operated out of Vasim Jewelry at 83 S. Eighth St. in Center City, as well as from a jewelry-tools-and-supply store at 814 Chestnut St. and from V Jewelers, at 735 Sansom St., a retail shop that has been closed since the January seizure of items.
His co-defendants were charged as part of a ring that burglarized 15 homes — eight in Montgomery County, six in Delaware County and one in Chester County — in which valuables totaling more than $1.5 million were taken. They are Kebbie Ramseur, 39, and Jerrel Jaynes, 41, both of Philadelphia; Ralph Mayrant, 40, of Chester; and Shron Linder, 39, of Drexel Hill. They are in custody and also face trial.
Authorities believe the five men are also connected to other burglaries in New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania.
