Philadelphia Man Gets 18 Years for Violent Home Invasion Robberies

A Philadelphia man now knows his fate for committing violent home invasion robberies that targeted business owners and employees.

On Thursday, 28-year-old Abdullah Hartage was sentenced to 18 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and $60,000 in restitution.

Hartage and codefendant Ali Chandler were charged in October 2022 and pleaded guilty two years later to conspiracy to commit robbery which interferes with interstate commerce (Hobbs Act robbery), and two counts of committing or threatening physical violence in furtherance of a plan or purpose to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery. Chandler is still awaiting sentencing.

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Armed Robbers Followed Victims Home

Federal authorities say on November 13th, 2021, Hartage, Chandler, and others met at their intended victims' area business and waited outside until closing time, when the owners and their adult daughter left. The robbers, who had conducted prior surveillance to determine where they lived, then drove to their home, arriving before the victims.

When the victims opened their garage and parked inside, the four perpetrators, armed with handguns, stormed in. One of the gunmen struck the 61-year-old male victim several times in the head, causing injuries, and forced him to the ground. Another gunman forced the business owners’ daughter to the ground at gunpoint, and yet another perpetrator forced the 65-year-old female victim from the garage into the home at gunpoint, striking her several times in the head and causing injuries. After the home’s security alarm sounded, the perpetrators fled, taking the daughter’s backpack, which contained her credit/debit cards and ID.

Second Robbery Left Elderly Victim Injured

In the next robbery on December 4th of that year, Hartage, Chandler, and others targeted an employee of an area store. They had spent weeks casing the store, following the victim home, and identifying her house. On the night of the robbery, the perpetrators again arrived ahead of the victim and then broke in. The 68-year-old victim was zip-tied to a chair and pistol-whipped in the face, causing head injuries, including a gash requiring stitches, and a concussion. The perpetrators made off with a safe containing cash, coins, and jewelry.

Prior Convictions Factored Into Sentence

Hartage had served more than two years in state prison for previous violent home invasion robberies targeting business owners and was still on probation when he planned and committed these 2021 home invasions.