Participant in prolific Minneapolis smartphone theft ring sentenced to nearly eight years

A 25-year-old St. Paul man is going to prison for being among several people who at times used violence to steal more than 100 smartphones in downtown Minneapolis and then drain money from their victims' financial apps.

Aaron T. Johnson, 25, was sentenced Tuesday in Hennepin County District Court to nearly a nearly eight-year term after pleading guilty to felony racketeering for stealing and reselling phones and finding people on social media willing to launder stolen money.

With credit for time in jail since his arrest, Johnson is expected to serve the first 4 3⁄4 years in prison and the balance on supervised release.

https://www.startribune.com/participant-in-prolific-minneapolis-smart-phone-theft-ring-is-sentenced-to-nearly-eight-years/600256958/