Three New York City men indicted on Thursday for allegedly hijacking a delivery truck packed with pricey Apple devices in Nassau County were in the U.S. illegally,federal prosecutors said.
Defendants Alan Christhofer Cedeno-Ferrer, 27, of the Bronx, and Michael Mejia-Nuniz, 29, and Ennait Alexis Sirett-Padilla, 24, both of Manhattan, were charged with Hobbs Actrobberyand conspiracy, which includes interstate commerce activity and interstate transportation of stolen property.
Court documents indicated the defendants were born and raised in the Dominican Republic and came to the United States illegally, making them a “flight risk.” Prosecutors asked the judge in the case to keep the defendants in custody until the case goes to court.
Joseph Nocella, Jr.,U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, FBI, New York Field Office; and Patrick J. Ryder, Commissioner, Nassau County Police Department, announced the charges.
“As alleged, these defendants committed a violent and brazen daytime robbery that terrorized the victims and endangered the public at one of the most popular shopping centers on Long Island,” Nocella said. “Our office will continue its relentless pursuit of violent criminals who prey on innocent victims and put our communities in harm’s way for their own financial gain.”
The men are alleged to have stolen more than $1.2 million in Apple products when they hijacked a delivery truck parked outside of the popular Americana Manhasset mall in Nassau County.
According to prosecutors, the trio, working with others, hijacked the truck as two workers were about to bring a bevy of products ranging from MacBook laptops to iPhones and accessories into the store. Three masked men, armed with handguns, forced one of the workers into the back of the truck and zip-tied his hands before forcing the other to drive to a nearby secluded parking lot.
After restraining both victims in the back of the vehicle, the suspects transferred the pricey products into a Home Depot truck rented by Cedeno-Ferrer, using a fake Pennsylvania driver’s license, according to court documents.
The assailants then fled the scene, leaving the victims locked inside the truck’s cargo hold; one was able to free himself and called 911.Per the investigation, the stolen merchandise was taken to a New Jersey storage facility. As caught on camera, Mejia Nunez and Sirett-Padilla rented a storage unit that was used to transfer the stolen goods from the Home Depot truck to a U-Haul truck and another vehicle being driven by a coconspirator.Cops spotted the abandoned Home Depot truck in the Bronx just two days after the heist on Jan. 5.Strong physical evidence, including surveillance footage,helped law enforcement track down the suspects.Prosecutors said if convicted of the charges, the defendants would face up to 30 years in prison.
Per the investigation, the stolen merchandise was taken to a New Jersey storage facility. As caught on camera, Mejia Nunez and Sirett-Padilla rented a storage unit that was used to transfer the stolen goods from the Home Depot truck to a U-Haul truck and another vehicle being driven by a coconspirator.
Source: LI Press
