PHILADELPHIA (November 13, 2023) — District Attorney Larry Krasner and members of the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office Gun Violence Task Force announced on Monday that Christina Kolenda (DOB 4/28/87) and Maurice Allen (DOB 8/7/91) have been arrested and will be charged for their roles in a series of armed robberies they committed across the city since August.Kolenda and Allen, who are a couple, will be charged with five counts each of Robbery (F1), Conspiracy (F1), Aggravated Assault (F1), Simple Assault (M2), Possession of an Instrument of Crime (M1), and Recklessly Endangering Another Person (M2) later this week. Allen will also be charged with VUFA 6105 (F1), VUFA 6106 (F3) and VUFA 6108 (M1).The couple’s crime spree began on August 11 on the 1900 block of Bainbridge Street in Southwest Center City, when they robbed a pedestrian walking down the street. The couple struck again 10 days later at the C&C Creamery on the 5400 block of Ridge Avenue in the city’s Roxborough section. One week later, Kolenda and Allen held up a Dunkin Donuts on the 5000 block of Rising Sun Avenue in North Philadelphia. Following this, the couple robbed two nail salons — Happy Family Nail Salon and Nails in the City in the city’s West Poplar and Fishtown sections, respectively. As a result of the spree, thousands of dollars were stolen and one female complainant was shot and injured when she gave chase after the Fishtown nail salon robbery. Kolenda and Allen were dressed head-to-toe in traditional Muslim garments during most of the robberies.
Investigators obtained surveillance footage from some of the crime scenes and were able to develop a suspect vehicle identified as a 2007 Hyundai Sante Fe. Other identifying features included a roof rack and a non-functioning driver’s side headlight. Police traced the license plate number to Kolenda. They obtained an arrest warrant and took her into custody. An additional warrant gave them access to her cell phone. Details in that phone linked Kolenda to her paramour, Maurice Allen.Additional search and arrest warrants were obtained to arrest Allen and search their residence. Police confiscated from the residence a black Glock 23 with .40 caliber rounds that matched the fired cartridge casings from the non-fatal shooting that occurred following the final nail salon robbery. Traditional Muslim garments were also discovered. Following the couples’ arrests, investigators began analyzing call detail records and other cellular data. They determined that Kolenda and Allen were in the vicinity of the scenes when the robberies were committed, and that Kolenda was the getaway driver.“I applaud the painstaking investigatory work accomplished by the Philadelphia Police Department and our partners on the Gun Violence Task Force,” said DA Krasner. “These defendants will be prosecuted vigorously by the very capable Assistant District Attorney Fernanda Sandoval of the GVTF.”“Thanks to the excellent investigation conducted by the Philadelphia Police Department and our Gun Violence Task Force colleagues from the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, we have a very strong case to prosecute,” said ADA Sandoval. “Communities across the city are safer now that this couple who terrorized many people are in custody and will be held accountable for their actions in a court of law.”
CONTACT:Dustin Slaughter, [email protected], 215-686-8713
