The last of six individuals charged in a scheme to remove or destroy evidence from an impounded vehicle has been arrested, according to an announcement from United States Attorney David Metcalf. The group is accused of attempting to interfere with evidence held by the Pennsylvania State Police.
The defendants—Tyree Goldsmith, 38; Kyle Smith, 41; Lamont Sparrow, 38; Latonya Upchurch, 57; and Taleah Goldsmith, 39, all from Philadelphia; and Shafiq Taylor, 30, of Glenolden—were named in a second superseding indictment unsealed in August of last year. All except Sparrow were taken into custody shortly after the charges were made public.
Last week, the U.S. Marshals Service apprehended Sparrow. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lynne A. Sitarski in federal court in Philadelphia.
All six face charges of conspiracy, tampering with objects or proceedings, and destruction or removal of property to prevent search or seizure. Additionally, Tyree Goldsmith, Smith, Sparrow, and Taylor are charged with malicious damage by means of fire to a vehicle used in interstate commerce. Tyree Goldsmith, Taleah Goldsmith, and Upchurch face two counts of wire fraud each. Tyree Goldsmith also faces one count each for possession of a firearm by a felon and use of fire to commit a felony.
According to the indictment, the alleged conspiracy began after Tyree Goldsmith’s vehicle was impounded following a traffic stop on April 27, 2024. At approximately 3:29 a.m., Pennsylvania State Police stopped Goldsmith while he was driving his Ford F-450 in Philadelphia. Troopers observed marijuana and a scale inside the truck and informed him that the vehicle would be impounded pending a search warrant.
Later that morning, troopers executed a search warrant on the truck at the PSP Philadelphia Barracks impound lot. They recovered a loaded .40 Glock semiautomatic pistol with 19 rounds of ammunition, nine bags containing marijuana, a digital scale, and $865 in cash.
The indictment states that between April 27 and April 29, 2024, the defendants planned and attempted to break into the impound lot to retrieve items from the Ford F-450 at Tyree Goldsmith’s request. Goldsmith was under federal supervision and state parole at the time and sought to avoid additional charges that could violate his release conditions.
After breaking into the lot but discovering that police had already removed key items from the vehicle, “the defendants decided to set fire to the vehicle,” believing this would prevent law enforcement from using any evidence against Tyree Goldsmith.
The indictment further alleges that prior to setting fire to his truck on April 29 with assistance from others including Smith, Sparrow and Taylor,“he directed Upchurch and Taleah Goldsmith to file a fraudulent insurance claim for the vehicle” after purchasing an insurance policy for it.
Trial for this case is scheduled for October.
Investigating agencies include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), and Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. Special Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Arena and Assistant United States Attorney Ashley N. Martin are prosecuting.
“The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court,” said U.S. Attorney David Metcalf.
