The NYPD says it is still searching for seven people involved in a sophisticated cellphone crime operation allegedly run by migrants in New York City.
Police identified the ring leader as 30-year-old Victor Parra — and he is believed to be the mastermind behind the 14-member operation that involves hacking into stolen phones to drain victims’ bank accounts.
So far police have arrested seven suspects, all of whom are migrants from Venezuela, and that poses a unique challenge for investigators.
“They’re essentially ghost criminals. No criminal history. No photos. No cell phone. No social media. Sometimes we’re even unclear on name or a date of birth. And on top of that these operations are extremely sophisticated,” NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban said. “In recent months a wave of migrant crime has washed over our city, but by no means are the individuals committing these crimes representing the vast number of people coming to New York to build a better life.”
Cleyber Andrade, 20, was arraigned Tuesday evening and held on $10,000 bail. He’s charged with six counts of grand larceny in the fourth degree and six counts of criminal possession of stolen property.