15-year term imposed in jewelry store worker kidnap, torture

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- One of three men convicted of kidnapping and torturing a jewelry store worker before dumping her in a cemetery in an attempt to get the shop's security codes has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison.

24-year-old Basil Buie, who also goes by the name "Basil Tucker", pleaded guilty back in October to conspiracy, kidnapping, and attempted Hobbs Act robbery. His two co-defendants, Khayree Gay and Salahudin Shaheed, also pleaded guilty.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Shaheed recruited Buie and Gay to rob National Watch and Diamond Exchange, located on the 100 block of S. 8th Street in Philadelphia. Their goal was allegedly to obtain luxury watches, jewelry, and money.

Authorities say the trio conducted surveillance on the store and its employees from a nearby parking lot. Then on April 4, 2015, they allegedly targeted an employee as she approached her car in a garage.

Shaheed and Buie, wearing masks, gloves, and sunglasses, confronted the victim, and Shaheed assaulted her with a Taser, and they kidnapped her, authorities said.

Prosecutors said the victim suffered traumatic brain injury, memory loss and partial vision loss.

The judge said that in nearly a quarter-century on the bench, he could not recall "a crime so horrific or heinous."

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Information from The Associated Press was used in this post.