RING LEADERS SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR ENTERPRISE CORRUPTION AND OTHER OFFENSES TIED TO THE OPERATION OF A STOLEN CAR RING

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that the leaders of a major stolen car ring have been sentenced to significant prison terms after pleading guilty to charges of Enterprise Corruption and other offenses.

The defendants were involved in the systematic theft, storage, and illegal dismantling of stolen motor vehicles, as well as the sale and distribution of the component parts from vehicles worth a total of nearly $1,000,000.

Acting State Supreme Court Justice Steven Barrett sentenced STEVEN LUGO ,35, of 1901 Gleason Avenue, the Bronx, to a term of 5 to10 years imprisonment and VICTOR ESTRELLA, 46, of 2005 Davidson Avenue, the Bronx, to a term of 3 to 9 years in prison.

LUGO and ESTRELLA were convicted last month on one count of Enterprise Corruption, three counts of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the six counts of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the 3rd degree, three counts of Grand Larceny in the 3rd degree, and one count each of Insurance Fraud in the 3rd degree, Auto Stripping in the 1st degree, Unlawful Transfer or Disposal of Junk and Salvage Vehicles, and Criminal Possession of Forgery Devices.

On Wednesday, June 28, 2006, Justice Barrett sentenced another defendant, JAMES LUGO, 39, to a term of 2 to 6 years imprisonment. James Lugo, of 422 47th Street, Brooklyn, pled guilty last month to one count of Enterprise Corruption, three counts of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the 3rd degree, three counts of Grand Larceny in the 3rd degree, and one count each of Insurance Fraud in the 3rd degree, auto Stripping in the 1st degree, Unlawful Transfer or Disposal of Junk and Salvage Vehicles, and Criminal Possession of Forgery Devices.

The defendants were arrested in December 2004 following a three year long joint investigation by the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, NYPD’s Organized Crime Investigation Division, and the New York City Business Integrity Commission, formerly the Trade Waste Commission.

During the course of the investigation, detectives and prosecutors were assisted by court ordered electronic audio and video surveillance, telephone wiretaps and a Global Positioning System satellite tracking device that was secreted in a van regularly used by members of the ring in order to transport ring members to and from vehicle theft locations, chop shops and delivery locations for stolen car parts. As a condition of STEVEN LUGO’s guilty plea he and his common law spouse formally forfeited all right, title and interest in this van to the Bronx District Attorney’s Office.

By these guilty pleas, STEVEN LUGO and VICTOR ESTRELLA each admitted being the leaders of the criminal enterprise and thereby overseeing the day to day activities of the criminal enterprise including the theft, storage, and illegal dismantling of stolen motor vehicles, and the sale and distribution of the component parts from the stolen vehicles. STEVEN LUGO, VICTOR ESTRELLA and JAMES LUGO each admitted engaging in the systematic “theft, possession and dismantling of stolen vehicles” as well as the “distribution of the stolen vehicles and their dismantled component parts.” The admissions these defendants made in support of their guilty pleas confirmed that members of the criminal enterprise conducted business from various abandoned lots that were converted into open air “chop shops” to dismantle stolen vehicles. These locations were used to take orders for vehicle parts, dismantle vehicles, alter Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) on parts, rebuild motor vehicles using stolen parts, and also arrange for the disappearance of vehicles in connection with the filing of fraudulent insurance claims. The ring, during the course of the investigation engaged in criminal activities involving mostly “high end” motor vehicles, a garbage truck, and a tractor trailer.

In addition to the open air “chop shops,” an automobile sound and security shop that had been operating at 2655 Webster Avenue, Auto Sports, Inc., was similarly used in furtherance of the enterprise’s criminal activities (a similar type business is still operating at the same location under the same name but with new owners who have no connection to allegations resulting from this investigation.) On January 24, 2006, the corporate entity who had operated Auto Sports, Inc., during the course of the investigation pled guilty to a single count of Attempted Enterprise Corruption and is expected to be sentenced in Part M-60 on July 21, 2006 to a Conditional Discharge requiring the payment of $7,500 in forfeiture proceeds.
In addition to these recent convictions, additional members, associates and customers of the criminal enterprise have also been convicted.

RAYMOND LUGO, a/k/a CoCo, 42, of 422 47th Street, Brooklyn, New York, was convicted on July 1, 2005 by guilty plea to Attempted Enterprise Corruption. He was sentenced on July 12, 2005 to an indeterminate term ranging from 3 - 6 years.

ADALBERTO MARTY, JR., a/k/a Albert, a/k/a Al, 37, of 16 Wiles Drive, Stony Point, New York was convicted on January 24, 2006 by guilty plea to Criminal Mischief in the 3rd degree. He was sentenced on January 24, 2006 to 5 years probation and the forfeiture of three motor vehicles.

CARMEN MARTY, a/k/a Millie, 39, of 16 Wiles Drive, Stony Point, New York, was convicted on January 24, 2006 by guilty plea to Criminal Mischief in the 4th degree. She was sentenced on January 24, 2006 to a Conditional Discharge and the forfeiture of three motor vehicles. RENE CRUZ, a/k/a Javi, 29, of 1373 Franklin Avenue, Bronx, New York, was convicted on May 25, 2005 by guilty plea to Grand Larceny in the 3rd degree. He was sentenced on June 8, 2005 to an indeterminate term ranging from 2 - 4 years.

JUAN CARLOS, a/k/a Juan Carlos Osorio, a/k/a Kiki, a/k/a Shorty, a/k/a White Boy, 30, of 299 Troutman Street, Brooklyn, New York, was convicted on October 7, 2005 by guilty plea to Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the 3rd degree. He was sentenced on October 20, 2005 to an indeterminate term ranging from 2 ½ - 5 years.

MICHAEL NUNEZ, 35, of 25 Kress Avenue, New Rochelle, New York, was convicted on November 16, 2005 by guilty plea to Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the 3rd degree. He was sentenced on January 20, 2006 to a Conditional Discharge and $10,000 in restitution.
MICHAEL RIVERA, a/k/a Chunie, 29, of 2516 Hone Avenue, Bronx, New York, was convicted on February 1, 2005 by guilty plea to Criminal Possession Stolen Property in the 3rd degree. He was sentenced on March 23, 2005 to 5 years probation and $2,500 in restitution.

JUSTINO LOPEZ, a/k/a Justin, 36, of 579 East 178th Street, Bronx, New York, was convicted on February 16, 2006 by guilty plea to Insurance Fraud in the 5th degree and Attempted Grand Larceny in the 4th Degree. He was sentenced on April 12, 2006 to a Conditional Discharge and the forfeiture of $10,000 forfeiture.

JOSHUA KAUFMAN, a/k/a Joshua Alpert, 30, of 53 Stewart Place, Eastchester, New York, was convicted on May 26, 2005 by guilty plea to Insurance Fraud in the 4th degree and Grand Larceny in the 4th Degree. He was sentenced on May 26, 2005 to a Conditional Discharge and nearly $15,000 in restitution.

The investigation of the criminal enterprise and the resulting prosecution was conducted on behalf of the District Attorney by Senior Investigative Assistant District Attorney Todd Sherman of the Investigations Division.