A gang, which included a 16-year-old, was apprehended on Friday for a string of armed robberies, reportedly stealing around $100,000 worth of jewelry.
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark stated that the group, allegedly part of the Trinitarios gang, targeted seven victims over a fortnight. One of the victims, an elderly man, was so disturbed by the incident that he decided to leave the Bronx permanently.
Chilling video footage shows the elderly man in distress, pleading for his life as a masked assailant aims a gun at him. It’s unsettling, to say the least.
Clark mentioned that this man packed his things and moved away just two weeks after his harrowing experience.
Additional footage shared by prosecutors depicts the robbers approaching unsuspecting victims with weapons drawn while a getaway driver waits on a moped.
This gang, identified as part of the BB7 crew within the Trinitarios, specifically targeted individuals flaunting gold chains, expensive watches, and rings since September 20.
According to prosecutors, the plan was to hold victims at gunpoint, forcibly take their jewelry, and then regroup at one of two motels in the Bronx to assess their haul.
The victims included a manager from Mott Haven and a man who was outside a nightclub in Fordham Heights.
Prosecutors allege that the group would drive up to victims, force them into their car, and then seize several others.
Fortunately, no shootings occurred during these robberies.
Clark pointed out that this case involves five defendants, including the minor mentioned earlier.
“They stand accused of seven robberies in a span of two weeks, threatening victims with firearms and stealing their jewelry. They instilled fear in our community, targeting individuals of all backgrounds across the Bronx,” she said.
Clark further emphasized the importance of removing guns from the streets, expressing concern that as long as criminals have access to firearms, there’s a danger they will be used.
The robbers have been identified as Wilfren Carbuccia, 20, and Anthony Perez, 29, from the Bronx, alongside Manuel Rivas, 20, from Newark, New Jersey.
The identity of the 16-year-old remains undisclosed, and one other suspect is still at large.
All five face multiple charges, including robbery, grand larceny, and conspiracy. Rivas also faces an extra charge for firearm possession.
The teenager is additionally charged in a separate incident where he allegedly pointed a loaded gun at a man and stole a watch and a gold chain.
Both he and Carbuccia faced an arraignment on Thursday. The teen was held on a $100,000 bail, while Carbuccia was remanded.
Perez and Rivas are still waiting for their arraignment.
