Ronald Patterson, Jr., a 35-year-old man from Washington, D.C., was sentenced on April 1 in federal court in Boston for his involvement in a series of smash and grab burglaries targeting luxury retail stores. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani ordered Patterson to serve 37 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and to pay $33,000 in restitution.
Patterson pleaded guilty in September 2021 to conspiracy to transport stolen goods across state lines and one count of interstate transportation of stolen goods. He was indicted by a federal grand jury alongside two co-conspirators in January 2023.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office, Patterson participated as part of a group that carried out smash and grab burglaries at high-end stores from Florida up through Massachusetts. The group stole merchandise valued at more than $500,000 during fourteen separate incidents. Many of these crimes were captured on surveillance cameras showing the men breaking into closed stores by smashing glass doors before grabbing large quantities of merchandise.
The investigation found that Patterson advertised some of the stolen items for sale on his social media account. Law enforcement agencies from several states contributed to the case, including police departments from Woodbury (New York), Pocono Township (Pennsylvania), Leesburg (Virginia), and Tilton Falls (New Jersey).
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley said the sentencing reflects ongoing efforts by law enforcement partners to address organized retail theft across multiple jurisdictions.
