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A Minneapolis man is the latest person to be charged in a "cell phone theft ring" that has been plaguing the downtown night-life scene since last year.

Ryan Edward Matthews, 34, is accused of approaching a man outside Cowboy Jack's on the night of June 28, and with the help of at least one co-defendant, taking the man's phone by force.

According to a criminal complaint, Matthews and another suspect approached the victim and asked to use his phone. The man complied, unlocked his phone and handed it to Matthews, at which point he was punched in the face, "causing a black eye and a cut."

"Victim followed (the suspects) and tried to get his phone back but stopped when he realized it was not worth being assaulted again," the charges say.

The victim later learned of "several fraudulent transactions" where money was transferred from his bank account to a number of CashApp recipients as well as a Venmo account.

All together, the fraudulent transfers amounted to more than $1,500.

The charges say investigators tracked down Matthews as well as a co-defendant using surveillance video, later learning that Matthews was involved in two "similar phone robberies" outside Sneaky Pete's, also in downtown Minneapolis.

He is one of 12 people to be charged over their involvement in this "criminal organization," the charges note. He's currently in custody, with prosecutors having recommended a high bail as he "would pose a significant risk to the public."

Matthews is charged with first-degree aggravated robbery as well as one count of "financial transaction card fraud," both felonies. He's facing up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

The Cowboy Jack's robbery follows the pattern of a number of other such incidents. Prosecutors say the method of robbery "entails a defendant approaching the victim (who is often under the influence of alcohol) in a friendly manner and asking the victim
for their phone so they can add themselves to a social media platform" — with the perpetrator making sure the victim unlocks their phone.

"A co-defendant then distracts the victim with conversation as the phone is handed off to another person," the criminal complaint notes. "Often, as this is happening, another co-defendant stands by in case a physical altercation ensues.

In other cases, the suspects take the phones by force or intimidation.

Earlier this year, the purported leader of the theft ring pleaded guilty to racketeering. At the time of the plea, the scheme had resulted in almost $160,000 in actual cash being stolen, along with more than $85,000 in cryptocurrency.

The value of the stolen phones was estimated to be over $25,000.

https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-news/another-man-charged-in-downtown-minneapolis-cell-phone-theft-ring

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