4 Men Targeted Asian American Business Owners For Burglaries: Police

TARRYTOWN, NY — The investigation of two residential burglaries in the village of Tarrytown in early October led law enforcement to the arrest of four Queens-based men, who were accused of targeting Asian American business owners.

Diego Martinez Franco Alexander, also known as Anderson Osorio-Gomez, and John J. Carmona Artega, also known as Jeyle Puentas-Pajoy, were charged as follows:

• White Plains Police Department: first-degree attempted burglary, felony.
• Tarrytown Police Department: second-degree burglary, second-degree robbery and second-degree grand larceny, felonies.

Jose Javier Garcia Ortega and Victor Alfonso Lopez Restrepo were charged as follows:

• White Plains Police Department: first-degree attempted burglary, felony.

All four men are currently in the Westchester County Jail.

Authorities said the two Tarrytown burglaries, which seemed to be similar, led Tarrytown investigators to coordinate with members of the Greenburgh Drug and Alcohol Task Force and the Westchester County Police.

Through the coordination, a pattern emerged that was like other burglaries seen in Westchester.

Police said Asian American business owners were being surveilled and their residences burglarized.

Eventually, 17 investigative agencies in the area were involved, and a location in White Plains was identified as a target of surveillance by the four Queens men.

They were caught Monday while attempting to commit a residential burglary in White Plains, authorities said.

Tarrytown Police Chief John Barbelet said the task force, which included nine municipal police departments as well as county and state agencies, was a testament to law enforcement in the Hudson Valley.

“What also can be taken from this today is the village of Tarrytown and our many partners in law enforcement stand by the Asian American community,” he said. “We will not tolerate or accept them or any group, for that matter, being targets of those who wish to victimize them.”

If convicted of the crimes as charges, the men could face up to 15 years in prison, police said.

The tip line for the Burglary Task Force, if anyone wants to report suspicious activity, is 1-800-898-8477.