12 The QUEE NS Courier • JULY 16, 2015 FOR Breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com police beat Compiled by Cristabelle Tumola and Angy Alatmirano 17 indicted following Queens auto theft ring bust WHEN ONLY THE BEST WILL DO! Old world craftsmanship for 41 years of reliable service. • Basement Waterproofing • Brickwork • Exposed “Aggregate Concrete” • Pavers For more information contact Artie DiBiase Mason Contractor 718.767.0072 Licensed #08097 and Insured $$Top Cash Paid$$ HIGH END ANTIQUES HIGH CASH PAID Oil Paintings, Mid-Century Accessories 1950s/60s, Porcelain, Costume Jewelry, Sterling Silver, Gold, Furniture, Objects of Art, etc. 1 Pc. or entire estates Damaged Quality Pieces also wanted Premium prices paid for Tiffany, Meissen Porcelain, Bronzes, Marble, etc. CALL JOSEPH OR RUTH 718-598-3045 or 516-270-2128 Family Business for over 40 years AntiqueAssets.com Buying and Selling over 40 Years / Member New England Appraisers Association 109th Precinct Flushing, Queensboro Hill, College Point, Malba, Whitestone, Beechhurst and Bay Terrace Suspect sought in forcible touching of teen in Flushing Police are looking for a man wanted for forcibly touching a 14-yearold girl in Flushing last month. On June 29 at about 1 p.m. the victim was walking near 41st Avenue and Main Street when the suspect approached her from behind and grabbed her buttocks several times, according to cops. The man then fled the scene; there were no reported injuries. Police describe the suspect as a black man in his early 30s, 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 200 pounds. Authorities have released surveillance video and photos of the suspect. Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS. 110th Precinct Corona and Elmhurst Man wanted for groping woman in Corona Police are looking for the perpetrator who they say grabbed a woman’s buttocks as she walked down a Corona street on July 4. The 46-year-old woman was near Corona Avenue and Junction Boulevard about 6:20 a.m. when the suspect — a Hispanic male — walked up behind her and grabbed her behind before fleeing the scene, authorities said. Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS. A two-and-a-half-year investigation resulted in charges for 17 individuals involved in a major Queens-based auto theft and “title washing” ring, where highend vehicles were swiped off city streets and even from dealerships, officials announced on July 9. “The ring’s members were purportedly highly organized and fast,” Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said. “It is alleged that a main ‘steal’ crew would canvas neighborhoods for luxury vehicles to steal and, once a vehicle was found, obtain the vehicle’s VIN, which was then used to make a duplicate key for the vehicle. Armed with the new key, the vehicle was then allegedly stolen — the whole process taking only a few hours. In some cases, crew members allegedly stole vehicles ‘to order.’” In a 128-count indictment, eight of the defendants have been charged, among other crimes, with enterprise corruption under New York State’s Organized Crime Control Act and are accused of stealing more than 80 automobiles, prosecutors said. The investigation, by the NYPD’s Auto Crime Division and the district attorney’s office’s Organized Crime and Rackets Bureau, found that those vehicles included pricey GMC Yukon Denalis, BMWs, Range Rovers and Mercedes-Benzes – stolen from Queens and elsewhere between February 22, 2013, and November 29, 2014. The defendants, such as Franklyn Gutierrez, 33, of Sutter Avenue in Brooklyn, allegedly worked with a main theft crew – including Miguel (“Fello”) Maldonado, 34, of 77th Street in Woodhaven, Ariel Rodriguez, 28, of Highland Place in Brooklyn, German Garcia, 44, of Decatur Street in Brooklyn, and William (“Bori”) Cruz, 32, of Melrose Street in Brooklyn – that took high-end, newer vehicles off New York City streets and from dealerships and sometimes even stole vehicles “to order,” prosecutors said. After crew members would find a vehicle, they would allegedly acquire the VIN and then take the number to a locksmith to create a key. The crew member would then use the key to drive the car to a location in Queens, where forged documents were created to conceal the vehicle’s true identity. A broker would then allegedly resell the vehicle. Many of the stolen vehicles were allegedly transported across the country, as well as around the world, including as far away as Nigeria and the Dominican Republic. The indictments additionally charge defendants Onnie (“Sha”) Canady, 52, of 32nd Avenue in East Elmhurst, with being a middleman for stolen car buyers; Henry (“Charlie”) Morrel, 30, of Ridgewood Avenue, in Brooklyn, for having created the forged documents; and Edward (“Chapa”) Gomez, 39, of 100th Avenue in Hollis, as being the alleged black market broker who resold the stolen vehicles. According to the district attorney’s office, earlier last week, police executed a search warrant at the home of Gomez, where many of the vehicles were taken as part of the operation, and allegedly recovered three kilos of cocaine, one kilo of heroin, a scale and $2,000 in cash. Luis Ramos, 43, of 49th Street in Brooklyn; Santiago (“C-Lo”) Robinson, 34, of Shore Front in Arverne, Mayovanex Pena- Ortega, 26, of 34 Jerome Street in Brooklyn, Joel Urena, 34, of Beach 40th Street in Far Rockaway; Angel Acosta, 30, of 117th Street in the Richmond Hill; Edgar Rodriguez, 36, of Florida; Luis DeJesus, 32, of Hancock Street in Brooklyn; Angel Batista, 34, of Yonkers; and Walden Clarke, 37, of East 53rd Street in Brooklyn have also been indicted for their alleged participation in the ring. They each face up to seven years in prison if convicted, while the remaining defendants face up to 25 years. Most of the defendants had been arraigned as of July 8, according to the district attorney’s office, but Robinson, Acosta and Rodriguez were currently being sought. Photo courtesy of NYPD Screenshot via NYPD
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