Montgomery Township Police Photo by James Short.
Federal convictions announced more than four years after armed robbery on Colt Circle following multi-agency investigation
Federal authorities announced this week that Abdullah Hartage and Ali Chandler were arrested and convicted in connection with a violent home invasion robbery that occurred more than four years ago in Montgomery Township.
According to the Montgomery Township Police Department, the robbery occurred on Dec. 4, 2021, at a residence on Colt Circle, when the victim returned home from work around 9 p.m. Police said that shortly after entering the home, three armed individuals forcibly entered the residence and robbed the victim at gunpoint.
Montgomery Township police said an on-call detective responded to the scene that night and assumed responsibility for the investigation. The case remained active in the years that followed, with the assigned detective working alongside multiple law enforcement agencies to identify suspects and develop prosecutable leads.
On Jan. 8, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania announced that Hartage and Chandler were arrested and convicted for their roles in the home invasion robbery.
Police said the investigation relied on advanced investigative tools and extensive interagency collaboration, which ultimately led to the identification of the suspects and the resolution of the case.
The investigation involved assistance from the Pennsylvania State Police and the FBI Philadelphia, including the bureau’s FBI Newtown Square Resident Agency.
Federal prosecutors said the case was led by Brian Doherty, who handled the prosecution on behalf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Montgomery Township police credited the long-term effort of investigators and partner agencies for bringing the case to a close, noting that the announcement marked the successful resolution of a violent crime that had remained under investigation since 2021.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
