Queens Burglar On the Run Sentenced In Absentia To Prison For Targeting Asian Business Owner's Home

OSSINING, NY — A Queens man is on the run, but that didn't stop a judge from handing down a lengthy prison sentence.

Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced that a Queens man was sentenced on Wednesday to five years in prison on burglary charges from a September 2023 incident in which he illegally entered a home in Ossining and tried to steal over $1000 worth of designer handbags.

The district attorney said that 27-year-old Job Vera Zambrano, who was caught as he tried to escape from the Ossining home, pleaded guilty in April to second-degree burglary.

After failing to appear in court in both May and June, his $20,000 cash bail was forfeited and a hearing was scheduled for Wednesday to determine whether to sentence him in absentia. Zambrano failed to appear in court again and after the hearing, was sentenced in absentia to an enhanced sentence of five years in state prison, along with five years post release supervision. A bench warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Zambrano was indicted for his role in the incident along with 49-year-old Juan Carlos Sierra Gonzalez, and 27-year-old Jaime Bryan Chang-Fuentes, 27, both also from Queens.

Gonzalez faces charges of two counts of first-degree burglary as a hate crime, two counts of second-degree burglary as a hate crime, first-degree burglary, second-degree burglary, fourth-degree grand larceny, and possession of burglar's tools.

Chang-Fuentes faces charges of first-degree burglary, second-degree burglary, fourth-degree grand larceny, and possession of burglar's tools.

Prosecutors allege that on September 29, 2023, around 12:18 p.m., Zambrano, Gonzalez and Chang-Fuentes unlawfully entered the Ossining home of a local business owner, who is Asian, and stole designer handbags. They further allege that the trio had burglar's tools often used to forcibly enter premises. Gonzalez allegedly targeted the victims' home based on stereotypes about their national origin.

Bench warrants have also been issued for Gonzalez and Chang-Fuentes after they also failed to appear in court.

"The arrests, investigation and subsequent prosecution of these three suspects were extremely well coordinated," Cacace said. "I thank all our partners in law enforcement and our prosecutors for their efforts. Also, considering that all three defendants have absconded from court in this case highlights the importance of securing the appearance in court of those charged with serious crimes. We must all work together on finding fair, just and effective ways to improve on this incredibly important issue."

The arrests and investigation were handled by the Ossining Police Department with help from the Westchester County District Attorney's Office, the Briarcliff Manor Police Department, the Croton-on-Hudson Police Department, the Hastings-on-Hudson Police Department, the Sleepy Hollow Police Department, the Westchester County Department of Public Safety, the Westchester County Police Department's Real Time Crime Center, the Greenburgh Drug and Alcohol Task Force, and New York State Police.

The case was prosecuted by Celia Curtis of the DA's Office's Violent Criminal Enterprise Bureau.

SEE ALSO: 3 Indicted After Ossining Police Foil Home Burglary