BOZEMAN — Elmer Edison, Xavier Taylor, Joshua Blair, and Andrea Monroe are in police custody after after a series of car break-ins and other thefts in Bozeman.
All four made their initial appearance in court Monday after they were arrested by Bozeman police last Friday at an AirBNB home.
“These vehicle break-ins and thefts started last week, primarily at trailheads within the county, local parks within the city of Bozeman,” explained Detective Sergeant Joseph Swanson with the Bozeman Police Department.
Unoccupied vehicles in public places, and it didn't matter whether the vehicles were locked or unlocked: “Primarily what we were seeing is unlocked vehicles were being entered and property was being taken such as: driver’s licenses, checkbooks, financial instruments, and the vehicles that were locked unfortunately, their windows were broken out,” Swanson said.
Swanson says these four people were identified after a series of tips and sightings from witnesses.
“It’s very unusual for law enforcement to intercept an entire crew. But they were staying at an AirBNB. They had license plates. They had wigs. They had items from the stolen vehicles,” prosecutor Jaydan Johnson explained.
“They’d already booked reservations in Billings at an AirBNB. So, after they were done with this area, they were in route to Billings to conduct a crime spree there,” said Johnson.
Bond was set at $500,000 for each person, which came as a surprise to a couple of them.
“My bond is set at $500,000 due to the circumstances that’s going on in the world right now?” asked Taylor.
“Sir, I have a baby on the way. I have a baby on the way,” pleaded Blair.
All four co-defendants will have their preliminary hearings in District Court on May 22nd.
The four are suspects in a multi-jurisdictional investigation of organized groups referred to as the “Felony Lane Gang.”
According to court documents, the Felony Lane Gang targets individuals across the country, stealing from vehicles, committing identity theft , fraud and forgeries. Members of the gang would reportedly steal mail, identification information and use victims’ IDs and credit cars to commit more crimes, like fraud or going on shopping sprees with stolen credit cards.
Law enforcement said typically groups work in tandem to commit “smash-n-grabs” of vehicles or mail boxes while others cash or transfer money via prepaid gift cards. The group would use women to cash checks, often allegedly wearing wigs to avoid detection.
The break-ins took place at:
- Lindley Park area, Bozeman - a driver’s side window broken out and a purse and contents stolen.
- Softball Complex, Bozeman - vehicle broken into and purse and contents stolen.
- Peets Hill Park, Bozeman - vehicle window broken out and purse and contents stolen.
- Bozeman Ponds Area, Bozeman - vehicle window broken out and purse, portable electronics and eyewear were stolen.
- Cherry Creek Fishing Access, Bozeman - vehicle window broken out and purse, wallet and credit/debit cards were stolen.
- Other break-ins were reported at the Bozeman Sports Park where several vehicles were broken into and at Montana Kids.
