A sophisticated crime ring that targeted South Asian households across 25 towns in Massachusetts has been dismantled, with four Rhode Island men arrested in connection with the string of burglaries. The suspects, who allegedly stole over $4 million in valuables, were indicted on 95 counts of unarmed burglary and breaking and entering a dwelling house in the daytime with intent to commit a felony.
The accused, identified as Jovan Lemon, 29, Paul Lemon, 30, Steven Berdugo, 28, and Paul Miller, 46, were arrested at their homes on Friday. The Lemons are brothers, and Miller is their father. The four men are believed to be part of an organized burglary ring with ties to a violent Providence-based gang.
Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, in a press conference, revealed that the suspects specifically targeted homes owned by residents of Indian or South Asian heritage. "Investigators believe that they were targeted based on their ethnicity relying on a belief that their households were more likely to contain precious metals, jewelry, and other valuable heirlooms," Ryan said.
The burglaries, which spanned from July 2018 to March 2024, were meticulously planned and executed. The suspects allegedly used Wi-Fi jammers to disrupt alarms and avoided surveillance cameras. They also minimized cell phone use during the thefts, further complicating the investigation.
The stolen property, which included jewelry items worth up to $75,000 and safes weighing up to 400 pounds, was often of significant cultural and emotional value to the victims. "They were truly traumatized, and in some cases, really robbed of pieces of their heritage," Ryan said.
The arrests followed a nine-month investigation by the DA’s office and State Police, in collaboration with Rhode Island State Police and numerous local departments. The authorities are now working to return the recovered items to their rightful owners.
The case has raised concerns about potential hate crime charges. One of the victims, Samir Desai, whose home was broken into while he was on vacation, expressed his hope for continued vigilance in the community. "We lose the sense of belonging and safety and security. We should be pressing some kind of a hate crime on this," he said.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are urging residents to remain alert and vigilant.
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