PHILADELPHIA, PA — A Philadelphia man was sentenced Tuesday to nine years in federal prison for his role in two criminal conspiracies that included a cargo-theft operation responsible for more than $1.5 million in stolen goods and a racketeering enterprise tied to financial and violent crimes.
Rakiem Savage, 28, was sentenced Sept. 15 by Chief U.S. District Judge Wendy Beetlestone to 108 months in prison and three years of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He was also ordered to pay restitution of $234,474.80 in the cargo-theft case and $37,425 in the racketeering case, along with a $1,300 special assessment.
Savage admitted participating in a conspiracy that targeted interstate shipments on tractor-trailers around Philadelphia between Jan. 1 and July 31, 2023, according to court filings and statements cited by prosecutors.
Members of the conspiracy broke into trailers while they were unattended overnight or while drivers slept, using bolt cutters and other tools to gain access before offering stolen merchandise for sale to local contacts, prosecutors said.
Savage admitted participating in an April 1, 2023, robbery of a tractor-trailer carrying commercial refrigerators in which members of the conspiracy attacked and injured the driver, according to prosecutors.
He also admitted participating in the April 13 theft of more than $230,000 in U.S. dimes.
The broader cargo-theft conspiracy stole goods with an estimated value exceeding $1.5 million from more than 10 victims, prosecutors said.
The FBI and Philadelphia Police Department investigated the cargo-theft case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander Bowerman and Christopher Diviny prosecuted it.
Savage separately admitted participating in the Omerta racketeering enterprise, which prosecutors said operated primarily in Philadelphia’s Strawberry Mansion neighborhood.
From at least August 2018 through August 2023, Savage conspired with other Omerta members to engage in criminal activity that included counterfeiting U.S. currency, robbery, theft, fraud, drug trafficking and gun crimes, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors said members of the enterprise used firearms to protect territory, retaliate against rivals and enforce discipline within the organization.
The Omerta investigation involved the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office and Philadelphia Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Everett Witherell, Shayna Gannone and Meghan Claiborne Bisio prosecuted the racketeering case.
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