Source: Office of United States Attorneys
PROVIDENCE, RI – A Connecticut woman who previously admitted to a federal judge that she conspired with others to target and rob residences belonging primarily to individuals of Asian descent in at least eight states has been sentenced to two years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Basneyareth Rebollar-Martinez, 28, of Stamford, CT, was sentenced on Wednesday by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith to 24 months of incarceration to be followed by three years of federal supervised release. Additionally, Rebollar-Martinez was ordered to pay$722,420 in restitution to the victims of her criminal activity. A Mexican national, Rebollar-Martinez faces deportation once she completes her term of incarceration.
In pleading guilty on September 12, 2023, to a charge of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property, Rebollar-Martinez admitted to a federal judge that, from July 2022 to January 2023, she and others worked collaboratively to burglarize and attempt to burglarize at least ten residences in eight states, including Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. Residences were targeted based on a belief that they would contain large sums of cash, valuable jewelry, heirlooms. and other items.
According to information presented to the court, forensic audits of the defendant’s and others cell phones revealed photographs and communications illustrating that members of the conspiracy conducted surveillance on the victims they were targeting, including at their place of work, which included Chinese restaurants and nail salons. GPS trackers were placed on victims’ vehicles to monitor their movement and to determine when and whether they were at home. The conspirators also used drones for surveillance purposes. Once a residence was targeted, some members of the conspiracy would act as lookouts at a nearby locations; others would serve as drivers dropping off and picking up co-conspirators at designated locations; while other members of the conspiracy would force entry into the residences. After the burglaries, the stolen goods were transported elsewhere and sold for profit.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ly T. Chin and Julianne Klein.
The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with the assistance of the Warwick and Smithfield, RI Police Departments; Shrewsbury and Framingham, MA Police Departments; Gorham, NH Police Department; Stamford, Wallingford, and Westport, CT Police Departments; West Allis, WI Police Department; New Castle County, DE Police Department; Manalapan, NJ Police Department; New York City Police Department; Jacksonville and Flagler County Police Departments; Massachusetts State Police; Pennsylvania State Police; and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
###