Man pleads guilty to house breaks targeting Asian & South Asian families, including in Wellesley

The Middlesex District Attorney’s office has announced that a New York man has pleaded guilty to a series of ten housebreaks across Newton, Wellesley, Andover, and Quincy.  The breaks targeted homes belonging to Asian or South Asian families.

“His plan not only violated the victims’ sense of safety, but, in one instance, he created a physical threat for the family, including children, who were at home during the break,” said District Attorney Marian Ryan. “This case is an example of a frightening trend of targeted breaks. However, it also illustrates that we are committed to working collaboratively across agencies and multiple counties, if necessary, to hold those accountable who are organizing these complex criminal schemes.”

Between June and July of 2021, ten homes were broken into, four in Newton, four in Quincy, one in Wellesley and one in Andover. During these housebreaks approximately $200,000 worth of property was stolen, including currency, designer watches, jewelry and a handgun.

Geolocation and cell tower data obtained pursuant to search warrants revealed that the same Google account holder/phone subscribers were appearing at the location of all of the breaks.

In total, the man pleaded guilty to twenty-one indictments, and was sentenced to 4-5 years in State Prison as a Common and Notorious Thief. That sentence will run consecutively with a 5.5 to 11 year sentence already being served in New York state for similar conduct. The man was additionally sentenced to a three-year term of probation on an additional twenty counts charging Unarmed Burglary, Breaking and Entering, Larcenies in Buildings, Larceny of a Firearm and Attempted Breaking and Entering.

A co-defendant is scheduled for trial on April 14, 2025.

The investigation into this matter was conducted by the Newton Police, Wellesley Police, Andover Police, Quincy Police and the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, with assistance from the New England State Police Information Network.

YES, sign me up for Swellesley’s free weekday email newsletter