Employee of Robbed Rochester Cell Store, Robbery Suspect Charged in Phone Theft

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- An employee at a Rochester cell phone store that was robbed earlier this year and one of the men charged in the robbery have been charged in a felony theft case. 

Read More: Charges Filed Against AT&T Store Robbery Suspects

Court documents allege the young men sold phones stolen from the store prior to the robbery. The criminal complaints were filed in Olmsted County Court on Wednesday. 

On May 28, Rochester police responded to the report of a robbery and stabbing at the AT&T store at 430 Crossroads Dr. Southwest. 

See Also: Employees Accused of Conducting Theft Scheme That Caused Rochester Store Over $100K in Losses 

Two men, identified as 26-year-old Ahmed Abdulqadir Ali and 20-year-old Bilal Ali Hilowle, were found near the store and subsequently arrested. The Rochester men are each charged with first-degree aggravated robbery. 

In June bail was reduced for Hilowle and Ali in the aggravated robbery case. Both men have since posted their reduced bail, according to court records.

Read More: Bail Reduced for Rochester AT&T Store Robbery Suspects 

While investigating the alleged robbery and stabbing, AT&T loss prevention contacted authorities to report 12 phones stolen from the same store about a week prior to the robbery. 

Get our free mobile app

A cell phone ATM company told AT&T that multiple stolen phones had been sold at their ATMs stationed at Rochester’s two Walmarts on May 21, 23, 24 and 27, court documents say. 

A review of Ali’s cell phone records indicated an uptick in phone conversations with 24-year-old Mohamed Aden Hassan of Rochester about selling phones at Walmart, according to the complaints. 

Investigators learned Hassan worked at the AT&T store. Surveillance camera footage also captured Ali and Hassan at one of the phone ATM’s. The charges say Hassan was wearing his AT&T shirt. 

The court document does not say if Hassan was working at the store on the night of the robbery and knife attack.

Both men are charged with felony aiding and abetting theft and aiding and abetting receiving stolen property. Hassan and Ali are due in court for the felony theft case next month.