Skip to main content

Fourth Defendant Sentenced in Handbag Heist

Thu, 01/19/2023 - 10:17
Durell Godfrey

For her role in the March 2022 heist at the luxury retail store Balenciaga in East Hampton Village, Baseemah Davis of Newark, N.J., has been sentenced to two to six years in prison, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney announced Tuesday.

“Each of the involved defendants arrested in this particular organized retail theft ring has now pleaded guilty and will serve significant sentences in state prison, which is a just consequence for their selfish and dangerous actions,” Mr. Tierney said in announcing the sentence.

Ms. Davis, 34, was charged with second-degree criminal possession of stolen property, a felony, and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor. She was one of five people accused of stealing $94,000 worth of expensive handbags from Balenciaga, then leading police cars on a high-speed pursuit in a Dodge Durango that ended with a foot chase on the Long Island Expressway.

Three of the other thieves have already been sentenced on similar charges. Wazir Rodgers, 25, and Ali Harris, 29, both of Newark, were each sentenced to three to nine years in prison. Jamal Johns,

26, who had prior criminal convictions on his record for burglary, bail-jumping, and grand larceny, received a sentence of three and a half to seven years.

One other person involved in the theft, who allegedly was the one to distract the store’s sales clerk on the day of the heist, remains at large. Mr. Tierney said authorities are still searching for her. Her identity has not been revealed.

On the Police Logs 01.09.25

A man tried to return a toilet seat to Amagansett Hardware last Thursday afternoon, but employees turned down the request after noticing that the package had already been opened. The man became irate and police were called.

Jan 9, 2025

Sag Harbor Village Police Saw Drones, Too

Sag Harbor Village police spotted what appeared to be 12 drones flying at different altitudes over the Lance Cpl. Jordan Haerter Bridge last Thursday evening, after a caller reported seeing around seven of them that same night.

Jan 2, 2025

On the Police Logs 01.02.25

A businesswoman on Springs-Fireplace Road contacted police recently after people told her they were receiving strange messages from her on WhatsApp and asked if “everything was okay.” Police told her to deactivate the account and contact her customers by other means.

Jan 2, 2025

Two Injured in Bike Crashes

Two local men were hit by cars while bicycling on the evening of Dec. 19. One was taken to the hospital.

Jan 2, 2025

 

Your support for The East Hampton Star helps us deliver the news, arts, and community information you need. Whether you are an online subscriber, get the paper in the mail, delivered to your door in Manhattan, or are just passing through, every reader counts. We value you for being part of The Star family.

Your subscription to The Star does more than get you great arts, news, sports, and outdoors stories. It makes everything we do possible.