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(Omaha, NE) -- An Omaha man has been sentenced to prison for breaking into vehicles in the Omaha and Council Bluffs areas, and stealing items in those vehicles. Chief U.S. District Judge Robert Rossiter, Jr. Sentenced 22-year-old Abas Ali to 27 months imprisonment for wire fraud and 24 months’ imprisonment for aggravated identity theft charge for a total of 51 months. There is no parole in the federal system. After Ali’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release on both charges.
Ali's arrest came after an investigation by law enforcement in Sarpy and Douglas counties in Nebraska and Pottawattamie County, Iowa. Investigators say the scheme involved one person driving slowly thru a neighborhood while others called "runners" would enter parked vehicles and steal credit cards, identification, computers, money, and other valuables.
The stolen cars would then be taken to area retailers to buy drinks, food, and prepaid cards which would be loaded up with money from the stolen cards. They would also purchase money orders which would be deposited into bank accounts or bitcoin accounts belonging to the members of the conspiracy.
Investigators say Ali was the ringleader of the scam.
Law enforcement arrested all five members of the conspiracy.
Co-conspirator Hassan Mohamed was sentenced on June 12, 2024, to 20 months imprisonment on the wire fraud charge and 24 months on the aggravated identity theft charge for a total of 44 months.
Co-conspirator Hazem Sarmin was sentenced on June 14, 2024, to 18 months imprisonment on the wire fraud charge and 24 months on the aggravated identity theft charge for a total of 42 months.
Co-conspirators Ian Betkie will be sentenced December 5, 2024, and Bead Chan will be sentenced January 3, 2025. Both pled guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
This case was investigated by the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.