May 7 :
Four individuals from Rhode Island have been ordered jailed without bail on charges of being part of a complex burglary ring that preyed on Indian American and South Asian American homes in Massachusetts for a period of six years.
Colonel John Mawn Jr. of the Massachusetts State Police and Marian Ryan, the Middlesex District Attorney, have stated that the suspects reportedly committed 43 burglaries in 25 different towns throughout the state, making off with cash and jewellery valued at millions of dollars. A press release states that nine individuals have been apprehended and prosecuted in relation to the break-ins that occurred between 2018 and 2024: Jovan Lemon, 29, of Providence, RI; Paul Lemon, 30, of Warwick, RI; Steven Berdugo, 28, of Providence, RI; and Paul Miller, 46, of Woonsocket, RI.
Law enforcement in Rhode Island is aware that the defendants are associated with a violent gang based in Providence and that they are members of an organised burglary ring. On April 18, 2024, indictment was handed down by a Middlesex Grand Jury against the defendants on 95 counts of daytime breaking and entering with the intent to commit a felony and unarmed burglary.
Billerica, Boxborough, Carlisle, Easton, Hopkinton, Lincoln, Weston, Sudbury, Andover, Bellingham, Hudson, Littleton, Medway, Middleton, Millis, North Attleboro, Norwell, Pembroke, Sharon, Southborough, Wenham, and Westwood were all places where the charges were based on incidents that happened between July 21, 2018, and March 30, 2024.
Most of the houses were inhabited by people of Indian or South Asian descent. The announcement states that investigators have reason to think that their ethnicity was a factor in their targeting, as their houses were thought to be more likely to own rich heirlooms, jewellery, and precious metals. Many pieces of studded jewelry—including diamonds and other gems—with individual values of up to almost $75,000 were among the property reported stolen during the breaks. Other items included gold bracelets, necklaces, and earrings, as well as substantial quantities of cash.
The culprits took the stolen goods and locked safes weighing up to 400 pounds from the premises, which had protected the property in multiple cases. All things considered, the stolen goods are worth more than $4 million.
In this case, the defendants exhibited a high level of sophistication. Based on their victims' ethnicities, they planned their attacks to happen when their families were out. They practiced self-restraint by hiding their identities, ignoring security systems, and cutting back on cell phone use before, during, and after breaks, all while utilising Wi-Fi jammers. "Today, the process of holding these four defendants accountable began," stated District Attorney Marian Ryan, "despite these challenges and the complicated nature and breadth of this investigation." The cooperation and persistence of law enforcement continued throughout the day.
The district attorney's office of Middlesex, the detective unit of the Massachusetts State Police assigned to that office, and the division of Homeland Security of the Massachusetts State Police, including the MACrimeNet programme run by the MSP Fusion Centre, conducted a nine-month investigation that culminated in the arrests, as stated in the press release. The MACrimeNet programme allows law enforcement agencies to pool their resources and share information regarding criminal activity, suspects, and other pertinent details in order to resolve cases that are complicated or span more than one jurisdiction.
