NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Twelve members of a New York gang called “Route Boys” were indicted Tuesday for multiple crimes including burglary, drug dealing and weapons charges, authorities announced Wednesday.
The arrested Route Boys, ranging in age from 20 to 32, allegedly committed numerous crimes over the past two years. Their signature move was burglarizing pharmacies and convenience stores, often multiple in one night, and then selling the stolen substances through social media, according to court documents.
Beginning in late 2020, the gang would go to pharmacies and stores in Nassau, Suffolk, Brooklyn, Queens, Westchester and Rockland Counties, as well as in New Jersey and Connecticut, usually three or four members at a time. The group would usually arrive in a stolen car with stolen plates and quickly break into the business by smashing the glass with an object.
Once inside, the thieves or their associates would quickly steal controlled substances including oxycodone, alprazolam and promethazine-codeine cough syrup. After taking the products, they typically fled in stolen luxury vehicles at extremely high rates of speed, often crashing into other vehicles at the risk of endangering other people’s lives. The crew also would steal free-standing ATMs, forcing them open and stealing the cash from inside the machine, officials said.
Some of the members used social media to sell the stolen drugs while also posting photos of themselves with firearms, including high capacity magazines, scopes and multiple guns at once, according to authorities.
“For two years the defendants went on a crime spree targeting local businesses throughout the Tri-State, stealing money and pharmaceuticals to fuel their illegal drug business, and frequently using firearms to commit their crimes,” stated United States Attorney Breon Peace. “This office is working tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to protect local businesses and put a stop to those who seek to endanger our communities from drugs or guns.”
The twelve apprehended gang members include: Carlos Acevedo, Ramon Collado, Naresh Deonarrain, Jason Liriano, Charlie Maisonet, Cavier Nedrick, Eric Nunez, Jose Rosado, Alberto Santiago and Jeffrey Vargas, Jonathan Santiago and Luis Cerda.
“This criminal wrecking crew allegedly broke into businesses and pharmacies, stole prescription medications, and created havoc in their Hollywood style getaways,” said FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll. “These drugs are protected because of how addictive and potentially deadly they can be. The members of this gang showed no regard for the damage they caused the businesses or the danger they put people's lives in illegally pushing drugs, all to fuel their own greed.”
Ten of the twelve Route Boys are facing life imprisonment if convicted. Johnathan Santiago is facing a 40-year sentence if convicted of drug dealing charges and Luis Cerda faces 15 years in prison for bank larceny.
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