Authorities are looking into the possibility that the individuals involved in a recent incident where Border Patrol agents were shot may have connections to the same group implicated in a string of moped-related crimes. According to sources, this investigation stems from events that transpired last month.
On Sunday night, around 9:30 PM, Rahion Soto, a 30-year-old illegal immigrant from the Dominican Republic, was fatally shot during an attempted robbery, allegedly at the hands of another Dominican immigrant.
“They’re checking if this case ties back to that same crew,” a law enforcement source stated on Monday, noting that both incidents share similarities in patterns, locations, and methods.
According to the source, “Clearly, they want to determine if there’s a connection to the broader trend of robberies, which have included assaults on CBP agents.”
Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez, a 21-year-old illegal immigrant with an extensive criminal history, was injured during a firefight with border officers on July 15. This occurred after he was involved in an attempted robbery at Fort Washington Park in Manhattan.
On Sunday, Soto was reportedly involved in a moped robbery spree across the Bronx and Northern Manhattan.
When the police confronted him, Soto was shot as he attempted to flee, while his accomplice managed to escape.
Soto crossed the US border illegally in El Paso, Texas, in June, while Mora had been caught entering the country in April of the same year, according to officials.
Authorities have noted that moped robbery crews have intensified their activities in New York City, coinciding with the influx of migrants from the southern border.
This surge has reportedly allowed the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua to establish a presence in the city, deploying armed moped crews to carry out their crimes.
Earlier this year, the number of serious moped-related offenses saw a decline, a trend attributed to stricter immigration enforcement policies. Statistical data indicates a rise in these crimes—from 461 major incidents recorded in the city between December 2020 and April 2021 to a staggering 1,785 in 2023 alone.
However, as of April 20 this year, that number has begun to climb again, suggesting a resurgence of the criminal activity, particularly regarding confrontations involving CBP agents and non-duty NYPD officers.
