A New York man has been sentenced to two years and nine months in federal prison for his involvement in a scheme that targeted Asian and Asian-American small business owners for burglaries. James Hurt, 48, was part of a crew that burglarized homes in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania between December 2016 and March 2019. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for New Jersey confirmed that Hurt and his associates stole money, valuable jewelry, and other items before transporting them to various locations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
The group typically entered homes through second-floor windows using ladders and communicated with two-way radios to coordinate their illegal activities. Court documents reveal that the group operated out of a home in Elizabeth and carried out over 50 burglaries in locations such as Spotswood, Old Bridge, Sayreville, Edison, Kenilworth, and Hazlet.
Hurt pleaded guilty in September to conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property. The group specifically targeted Asian business owners because they believed these victims kept large sums of currency and jewelry in their residences. In addition to Hurt, seven others were charged in the case in 2021, with one individual already being sentenced to 50 months in state prison. Plea negotiations are ongoing for the remaining suspects, with charges pending against them.
The case is complex due to the multiple incidents and victims involved. The need for investigative journalism is critical in uncovering and reporting on cases like these
