VERIZON COIN BOX COLLECTOR AND THREE OTHERS CHARGED WITH GRAND LARCENY IN THEFT OF MORE THAN $50,000 FROM PAY TELEPHONES

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a Verizon Telephone Company employee and three other men have been arrested and charged with stealing more than $50,000 from Verizon since April 2004. Although the charges only cover a four month period from April 15, 2004 through August 10, 2004, the defendants are suspected of having engaged in this criminal conduct for many years costing Verizon hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Mario Colon, 35, of 1470 Parkchester Road, the Bronx, Edison Burgos, 32, of 231 Graff Avenue, the Bronx, and Raphael Burgos, 31, of 1000 Balcom Avenue, the Bronx, have been charged with Grand larceny in the 2nd degree, a Class C felony offense punishable by a maximum sentence of up to fifteen years imprisonment. Louis Ortiz, 30, of 2067 Hering Avenue, the Bronx has been charged with Grand larceny in the 3rd degree, a Class D felony offense punishable by a maximum sentence of up to 7 years imprisonment.

The defendants are charged with “acting in concert” in the theft of more than $50,000 from Verizon. It is alleged that Colon, a coin box collector for the company, discovered a way to open the locked boxes on the telephones that he serviced. During the investigation, surveillance teams observed Colon siphoning some of the coins from the boxes into a canvas bag. Colon would then contact one of the three other defendants by telephone and arrange a meeting to drop off the canvas bag containing the day’s take. From there Colon would drive his company truck back to the Verizon garage and turn in the remaining coins.

The defendants are believed to have used the stolen money to purchase plasma televisions, expensive jewelry, and high end appliances; purchase and lease expensive cars including a Land Rover and Mercedes Benz; renovate kitchens and bathrooms in their homes; and pay for trips to Las Vegas and Atlantic City.

Detective Investigators from the Bronx District Attorney’s Office arrested Colon on his collection route at the corner of Havermeyer and Lafayette Avenues. A search warrant executed at his home resulted in the recovery $18,000 in cash in his bedroom as well as jewelry and a ledger containing records of proceeds that he had received since December 2003.

Edison Burgos was arrested on the street in front of 2232 Bruckner Boulevard. Burgos, at the time of his arrest, was in possession of $4,500 in coins and $3,500 in cash. Detective Investigators recovered an additional sum of approximately $1,800 in cash at his home during the execution of a search warrant.

Raphael Burgos was arrested in front of his home at 1000 Balcom Avenue where investigators made a video tape of renovations to the home during the execution of a search warrant.

Ortiz, who allegedly was observed by investigators receiving stolen coins from Colon, surrendered at the Bronx District Attorney’s Office after learning that detectives wanted to speak with him.

The investigation by Bronx D.A. Detective Investigators is continuing. It began as a result of information provided by Verizon Public Communications Internal Security.

Assistant District Attorney Daniel Sullivan of the Rackets Bureau is prosecuting the case.