A group of migrants has been operating as a criminal “ghost operation” in New York City – led by a Venezuelan ringleader who was released by authorities in December.
At least five migrants were arrested Monday morning in an NYPD sting operation targeting a criminal gang that uses stolen mopeds and scooters to violently snatch phones and wallets from pedestrians, mostly women.
Police are still searching for the ringleader, Venezuelan national Victor Parra, 30, who was not home when police served a search warrant at his alleged hideout in the Bronx. Officials believe he entered the country sometime in 2023 and was released on bail in December after being charged with grand theft.
Parra masterminded an elaborate scheme in which he made calls about stolen phones through a group on the messaging platform What's App, police said Monday.
Once migrants brought the iPhones into the Bronx home, a suspect hacked into them to access the victim's Apple Pay feature. After the accounts were emptied, the phones were shipped to Miami or Colombia to be reprogrammed, according to the NYPD.
A group of migrants work as a “ghost” crime enterprise in New York City
Police are still searching for the ringleader, Venezuelan national Victor Parra, 30, who was not home when police served a search warrant at his Bronx home
NYPD Inspector Nicholas Fiore said Parra convinced others to “do his dirty work.”
“He's caused a lot of problems in New York City. And hopefully we get him and we'll move forward here,” Fiore added.
One of the phone thefts was captured in a horrific video released by police on Monday.
NYPD Assistant Commissioner Kaz Daughtry said, “Most migrants come to NYC looking for a better life.” Unfortunately, some come to commit crimes. Today we made tremendous progress on the biggest heist to hit our city.
“Our message is simple: Commit a crime in our city and we will find you and bring you to justice!”
Mayor Eric Adams took part in the sting operation and later appeared at a news conference with police. He explained that he took part because he was a “general leading from the front.”
“This is not about the migrants and asylum seekers, this is about those who break the law.” “It doesn't matter where you come from and where you come from,” the Democrat said.
The police have so far named a total of nine suspects from Venezuela, Ecuador and Colombia in the case: Cleyber Andrade (19) and Juan Uzcatgui (23), Yan Jimenez (25), Anthony Ramos (21), Richard Saledo (21) and Beike Jimenez , 21, Maria Manaura, 32, and Samuel Castro, 27.
They all have previous theft records and their homes are designated as migrant shelters across the city.
Police said it is particularly difficult to catch these criminals because they often change their aliases and swap identities and birthdays, making them “ghost criminals.”
The moment a migrant on a moped dragged a woman down a New York street to steal her phone was captured in chilling footage shared by police
The suspects allegedly stole the iPhones to use the Apple Pay feature and use the owners' credit cards to purchase items
Monday's arrests came after another video showed about a dozen migrants attacking two police officers in Times Square late last month.
A Manhattan judge released at least five asylum seekers without bail after they were charged with assault. Only one of the suspects remains in prison.
Four of the suspects are believed to have fled the city after being charged and released after giving false names to a charity that helps migrants get bus tickets.
Many of the migrants were already known to the police for petty theft and shoplifting.
According to the New York Post, the migrants charged in the attack are also part of a phone theft scheme.
“They are buying back cars in Ecuador and Venezuela,” a police source told the Post. “They put pools in their houses there.” All the money flows back and forth. That's why thefts are getting out of control. It's incredible what they do.'
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs has defended the decision to release the suspects, but claimed Saturday he would present evidence against them to a grand jury.
New York City is collapsing under the weight of a massive influx of asylum seekers, with over 170,000 having arrived since spring 2022.
Mayor Eric Adams accompanied the sting operation and later appeared at a news conference with police
Officer Nicholas Fiore said police were still searching for the leader of the crime ring who allegedly sought migrants to do “his dirty work.”
Adams initially welcomed the migrants but has since warned that the situation will “destroy” the city as we know it. His requests for help from the federal government have now been ignored.
In the city's latest controversial move to deal with migrants, Adams announced a $53 million program to give prepaid credit cards to migrant families with children.
Yesterday it was revealed that migrants staying in one of the city's hotels were being given prepaid cards to purchase food and baby items, rather than the city providing meals that the migrants often did not want.
Adams estimated the $53 million program will save the city $600,000 a month or $7.2 million a year, sparking outrage from many across the country, including native New Yorkers like rapper 50 Cent.
Migrants must sign an affidavit promising to only use the cards for food and baby items, otherwise their cards will be cut off.
Police are still searching for at least eight other men involved in the scuffle in Times Square
It's unclear how the city of New York would know if they were only being used in bodegas as intended.
The amount on each card depends on individual circumstances. It's unclear how city officials will check whether cards are being misused — and whether the system will worsen the crisis by encouraging other migrants to go to the Big Apple in hopes of getting free money.
A family of four could be provided nearly $1,000 per month, which equates to $35 per day for food for the four people.
Currently, each migrant meal costs $11, so feeding a family of four each day could cost up to $132.
The cards are refilled every 28 days.