Man is charged with theft of Allen Iverson’s backpack containing $500,000 in jewelry from Center City hotel

Christopher Daniel, 21, of North Philadelphia, surrendered and was charged with theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property, both felonies, police said.

by Chris Palmer and Vinny Vella

Updated Jan. 28, 2020, 9:50 p.m. ET

Published Jan. 28, 2020, 3:40 p.m. ET

A 21-year-old man was charged Tuesday with stealing $500,000 worth of jewelry belonging to former 76ers star Allen Iverson from a Center City hotel, Philadelphia police said.

Christopher Daniel of North Philadelphia surrendered and was charged with theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property, both felonies, police said. He was arraigned and released on $10,000 unsecured bail, court records show.

Warminster Township Police Chief James Donnelly III confirmed that Daniel surrendered to police in the Bucks County suburb late Monday, after police released a surveillance photo from the Sofitel Philadelphia at Rittenhouse Square hotel, 120 S. 17th St., where he allegedly took Iverson’s backpack containing the jewelry around 10:30 a.m. Monday.

Daniel apparently had seen news reports about the theft while staying in Warminster with a friend, who persuaded him to turn himself in, Donnelly said.

A police source, who requested anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation, said Daniel gave police a Rolex belonging to Iverson, then directed officers to an apartment where the backpack and remaining jewelry were found.

Daniel is completing an accelerated misdemeanor program in two other theft cases, according to court records. That program, offered by the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, is intended for nonviolent offenders in their first criminal cases. Details of Daniel’s other cases were not immediately available.