The migrant leader of a Manhattan-based cell phone robbery crew was sentenced to state prison time Tuesday.
In February 2024, police brass announced the takedown of moped-riding, drive-by thieves who would yank cellphones from pedestrians before using the devices to clean out the victim’s bank accounts. New Yorkers did not just suffer financially, cops also reported that people were violently dragged by the crews, leaving them injured.
Victor Parra, who hails from Venezuela, was named as the ringleader who would send out messages via WhatsApp, commanding other migrants to speed around the city on scooters and perform drive-by snatching of phones, purses, and other valuables.
“The text will say: ‘I have money available, go get them.’ The crime wave begins with the scooter operators making $100 a day and with the actual phone snatch making between $300 to $600,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said at the time. “The stolen phones are then brought back to Parra’s residence.”
According to court records, Parra met with the cell phone snatchers, paid them for each stolen cell phone, and added extra money if the cell phones were unlocked when they were delivered.
In one example, on Dec. 22, 2023, at around 12 a.m. at the intersection of West 24th Street and 6th Avenue, one of Parra’s criminal associates perched on the back seat of a moped and snatched a victim’s cellphone. He then met with Parra the Bronx, where the duo made two transactions on the victim’s Apple card for $1,742 and another for $1,630. They also attempted to make a declined $1,000 transaction on Zelle.
In another incident, at 8:30 p.m. on Jan 5, 2024 in front of 721 3rd Ave., prosecutors said Parra ordered two people to steal a cell phone. They then convened with Parra in the Bronx. Two unauthorized Zelle transactions for $1,300 and then $200 were made on the victim’s Zelle account.
“This ring snatched more than two dozen cell phones in Manhattan, and now its ringleader is being held accountable,” District Attorney Alvin Bragg said. “This investigation also led us to a larger alleged gun trafficking conspiracy that involves four defendants selling illegal firearms. I want to thank our attorneys for their diligent investigation that was able to connect this criminal activity. It demonstrates the depth of knowledge and expertise we have here in the Manhattan D.A.’s Office to combat crime in all its forms.”
Parra pleaded guilty in New York State Supreme Court to two counts of fourth-degree grand larceny. He was sentenced on Feb. 25 to serve between 2 and 6 years in state prison.
