Philadelphia Man Sentenced for Crimes that Targeted Asian Community

PHILADELPHIA—Rickey Phillips, 21, of Philadelphia, was sentenced today to 108 months in prison for his role in crimes that targeted members of the Asian community in Upper Darby, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. Phillips was charged with two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of carrying and using a firearm during a violent crime. He pleaded guilty to all three counts on March 29, 2010.

On November 29, 2008, Phillips, along with two co-defendants, attempted an armed carjacking of a Mercedes Benz. On December 3, 2008, Phillips and his co-defendants committed an armed robbery on Nagwon Garden Restaurant in Upper Darby. The indictment alleged that the defendants targeted members of the Asian community, who were also owners of businesses, because of their belief that Asian business people carry large amounts of cash and take cash from their business home with them, instead of locking it in their businesses. The indictment alleged that these defendants cased businesses, waited until owners left at night, and then followed the owners home. The defendants approached these business people at their homes, brandished firearms at them, and demanded money, even going so far as to force their way into one victim’s home and assaulting the victim and her son.

Co-defendants Shawn Davis and Cheron Humphrey pleaded guilty to two additional counts against them of attempted carjacking and using a firearm during the attempted carjacking and are awaiting sentencing.

This case has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania State Police, and various local law enforcement agencies. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Salvatore L. Astolfi and Alexander T. H. Nguyen.