New York Man Sentenced to 41 Months in Federal Prison for Selling Jewelry Stolen from Connecticut Home

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that MIGUEL MEAD, 33, of Schenectady, N.Y, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Alker Meyer in New Haven to 41 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for selling jewelry that was stolen in a Connecticut home burglary.

According to court documents and statements made in court, MEAD was a member of a group of friends who referred to themselves as the “Jedi Knights.”  Between approximately February 2012 and November 2013, members of the Jedi Knights committed numerous residential burglaries in Connecticut and elsewhere along the eastern seaboard, stealing money, jewelry and firearms.

In February 2012, two of MEAD’s associates burglarized a residence in Salisbury, Connecticut, and stole approximately 250 pieces of jewelry valued at more than $2.5 million.  They then traveled to a hotel in Newburgh, N.Y., where they met a third accomplice who identified the jewelry as being very valuable.  Shortly thereafter, the three accomplices traveled with the jewelry to North Carolina.  On the way, they contacted MEAD and bought him an airline ticket, which he used to immediately fly to North Carolina.  After he arrived, MEAD was given several pieces of the stolen jewelry, which he subsequently sold to a business in North Carolina in exchange for $11,543.44.  The business then melted the pieces down.

The investigation revealed that the business purchased one of the pieces, a gold snail broach, for approximately $800.  The victim confirmed that the broach was unique and had an appraised worth of $50,000.

MEAD has been detained since his arrest on June 4, 2015.  On October 13, 2015, he pleaded guilty to one count of sale or receipt of stolen goods.

MEAD has multiple prior convictions, including convictions for crimes of violence, such as assault, and unlawful possession of firearms.

An order of restitution will be issued at a later date.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Connecticut State Police.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vanessa Richards.