ATLANTA — Mihail Ilie has been convicted of violations of the federal Assimilative Crimes Act for possession of burglary tools and attempted car break-in at the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.
“National parks and recreation areas serve as havens for people to relax and enjoy the great outdoors without fear of being targeted by criminals like Ilie,” said US Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “This case is an example of the importance of citizens reporting property crimes. Were it not for the reports of other visitors to the park who have been victims of auto theft, Rangers would not have identified and arrested Ilie while she was committing another crime.”
“Parks are places where people tend to lose their guard. Their thoughts go into a safe mode and they become less alert when they start their hike or bike ride,” said Jeston Fisher, chief ranger, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. “Law enforcement agencies in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and metro Atlanta area are working very hard to deter crime and, more importantly, educate visitors. Please help by remembering to leave your valuables at home or take them with you when you recover.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: In August and September 2022, Park Rangers in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area began investigating a series of auto thefts. The dips follow a pattern. The lock on the car’s passenger door would be picked with a special tool, and any credit and debit cards left in the car would be stolen. The cards would then be used almost immediately at local malls to make high-dollar purchases like jewelry and Apple products.
Hikers returning to their cars sometimes didn’t immediately realize they were victims because many drivers unlocked their cars with key fobs and approached from the driver’s door. Using trail cameras and other investigative methods, rangers identified two vehicles that were frequently present when burglaries were reported.
On September 10, 2022, a law enforcement park ranger saw Ilie crouched between one of those suspect vehicles and another car he appeared to be tampering with, and arrested him just as he was breaking into the other car. Ilie used a young girl, then just 12 years old, as a lookout. A search of Ilie’s car turned up receipts for jewelry and Apple products, including some out-of-state purchases, and burglary tools.
After an initial appearance on September 12, 2022, Ilie was jailed pending trial for risk of absconding. On October 4, 2022, a grand jury indicted Ilie on two counts of violations of the federal Assimilative Crimes Act of possession of burglary tools and attempted car break-in. Ilie was convicted of these charges on December 12, 2022 after pleading guilty.
Mihail Ilie, 24, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, was sentenced on April 25, 2023 to a year and a day in prison, followed by a year of supervised release, and to pay $802 in damages.
This case was investigated by the National Park Service.
Assistant US Attorney Alana R. Black prosecuted the case.
For more information, please contact the US Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The web address of the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
