Authorities now say six of the migrants accused of jumping a pair of police officers in Times Square took off for California — and the group involved in the assault is being eyed in a larger conspiracy in which the immigrants use Apple Pay on stolen phones to buy cars and pools, police sources said.
In addition, immigration warrants have now been issued for several of those who fled, a senior law enforcement source said.
The violent group is part of a larger conspiracy involving other new arrivals in the city.
The migrants first steal phones from victims and then use Apple Pay and credit cards to make large purchases back in their home countries, the sources said.
“They’re buying cars back in Ecuador and Venezuela,” the police source said. “They’re putting pools in their homes there. All this money is going back and forth. That’s why the larcenies are going out of control. It’s unbelievable what they’re doing.”
Washington state diverted $340M in federal COVID funds to migrants