Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Criminal Justice announced charges today against a Newark man and four co-defendants for their roles in a car theft ring.
Samir White, 19, of Newark, is charged by indictment with multiple crimes, including conspiracy, auto theft, home invasion burglary, and weapons offenses. His co-defendants — Quamine McDonald, Samir Jordan, Tysir Philips, and Tauheed McLean — are also charged by indictment for their respective roles in the alleged auto theft ring. See chart.
“Breaking into homes, as is alleged in this indictment, adds a new level of danger to the crime of car theft,” said Attorney General Platkin. “The charges we are announcing today also include weapons offenses. Protecting the public is our highest priority, and cases like this one go a long way toward making our residents safer in their homes.”
“The indictment we are announcing today charges the defendants with auto theft as well as home invasion burglary,” said DCJ Director Theresa L. Hilton. “They also are alleged to have stolen weapons, jewelry, and other items. Shutting down criminal networks like this takes excellent work by everyone in law enforcement.”
“The indictment of these individuals sends a clear message: we will not tolerate those who threaten the safety of our communities through violence, theft, and the complete disregard for the law,” said Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “Breaking into people’s homes to steal vehicles is not just a property crime—it’s a violation of the very sense of security every resident deserves. I commend our detectives and law enforcement partners for their tireless efforts in holding these offenders accountable and ensuring the safety of the people of New Jersey.”
From September 2024 through February 10, 2025, the New Jersey State Police Motor Vehicle Crimes North Unit investigated members of an auto theft and home burglary crew, including White, that allegedly targeted high-end vehicles throughout the states of New Jersey and New York. White and others allegedly used stolen vehicles to travel to target locations throughout Monmouth, Ocean, and Essex counties, where they forced entry into homes using a crowbar, removed expensive items and key fobs to vehicles, then stole the homeowner’s vehicles from the residence. The estimated value of vehicles stolen is approximately $700,000.
The vehicles and residences include:
- On September 24, 2024, White and others allegedly stole a 2024 Land Rover valued at over $75,000 from Wall Township, Monmouth County;
- On November 18, 2024, White and others allegedly stole a 2023 BMW X7, valued at less than $75,000, from Lakewood, Ocean County;
- On December 9, 2024, White and others allegedly stole a 2024 BMW X3, valued at less than $75,000, from a residence on Boston Boulevard, Sea Girt, Monmouth County;
- On December 11, 2024, White and others allegedly entered a residence on River Road, Wall Township, Monmouth County, where they stole $10,000 worth of jewelry, a loaded firearm (Sig Saur P365XL), purses, a key fob, and a 2020 Porsche 911, valued in excess of $75,000;
- On December 13, 2024, White and others allegedly used the BMW X3, stolen on December 9, 2024, in Sea Girt, to travel to Bay Head in Ocean County to steal a 2020 Mercedes Benz G-Wagon, valued in excess of $75,000. This vehicle was recovered in the Bronx, New York;
- On December 18, 2024, White and others allegedly stole a 2024 BMW 769 from New York Boulevard in Sea Girt, Monmouth County;
- On December 22, 2024, White and others allegedly used a stolen vehicle to travel to Sea Girt in Monmouth County, where they entered residences on Crescent Parkway and Washington Boulevard to obtain key fobs to steal vehicles. A 2025 Range Rover, valued in excess of $75,000, and designer clothes and sunglasses were stolen from Crescent Parkway; and a 2020 BMW X3, valued at less than $75,000, was stolen from Washington Boulevard. Later that day, White and others allegedly used the 2020 BMW X3 to travel to Midland Avenue in East Orange, where one individual entered the residence, took the keys to a 2024 Audi RSQ8, valued in excess of $75,000, and departed with the Audi and the other stolen cars;
- On January 8, 2025, White and others allegedly stole a 2023 Range Rover from in front of a school when a mother left the vehicle to pick up her child in Holmdel, Monmouth County;
- On February 10, 2025, Samir Jordan and Quamine McDonald were allegedly involved in an attempted home invasion in North Caldwell, Essex County.
White was allegedly linked to these incidents through a combination of electronic and physical surveillance, common clothing, and cellular data.
Attorney General Platkin thanked the Monmouth County and Essex County prosecutors’ offices; the Wall Township, Sea Girt Borough and Bay Head Borough police departments and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department for their work on the investigation.
Deputy Attorneys General Jaclyn Dowd is prosecuting the case for DCJ, under the supervision of Deputy Chief Matthew Bernal and Chief Cassandra Montalto.
First-degree crimes carry a sentence of 10 to 20 years in state prison and a fine of up to $200,000.
Second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000.
Third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
