A Sophisticated Criminal Enterprise Unveiled in New York City
New York City authorities have arrested at least seven immigrants after a search warrant at a home in the Bronx revealed their connection to a pattern of burglaries occurring in four boroughs of the city.
According to the New York City Police Department (NYPD), the suspects are part of a criminal enterprise that primarily uses stolen mopeds to steal phones, which are then hacked to obtain monetary means. Mayor Eric Adams stated that the individuals involved have been responsible for 62 theft incidents throughout the city, including the transit system.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny disclosed that the criminal enterprise is led by a man named Victor Parra, who sends messages on social media asking for phone numbers. Moped drivers earn $100 a day, and those who steal phones earn up to $600 a day, creating a lucrative scheme.
The stolen phones are delivered to Parra, who then uses someone with technical skills to hack the phones, steal money from financial institutions, and make illegal transactions. Once the money runs out or the phone can no longer be used, Parra sends it to Colombia to be reprogrammed.
A search of Parra’s home revealed at least 22 stolen phones, and although some members of the enterprise were arrested, including the person who hacked the phones, Parra remains at large. The U.S. Marshals Service Regional Fugitive Task Force is currently searching for him.
Kenny described Parra as a Hispanic man from Venezuela who is believed to have entered the state sometime in 2023. The NYPD has identified 14 members connected to Parra’s scheme, with 7 arrested and charged with multiple counts of grand theft and 3 related to various other crimes.
Despite the influx of immigrants into the city, Mayor Adams emphasized that the issue is not about immigrants and asylum seekers, but rather about the criminals who have committed a crime.
When asked about the growing immigrant population in the city, Adams remarked, “This is a national problem, we need a national solution on both sides of the aisle.”
NYPD Police Commissioner Edward A. Caban also added, “A wave of crime committed by migrants has invaded our city, but they are by no means representative of all migrants.” The authorities are committed to addressing the issue and treating criminals the same, regardless of how long they have been in the city.
This sophisticated criminal enterprise has shed light on the challenges faced by law enforcement as they work to address crime patterns in the city. The investigation remains ongoing, and the NYPD is determined to bring those responsible to justice.