Sixteen people are facing 98 felony charges relating to the systematic theft of donated clothing from charity bins across Suffolk County. The charges include grand larceny, burglary and conspiracy stemming from 70 incidents between November 2024 and September 2025.
The investigation identified two separate criminal operations, one allegedly spearheaded by Alfredo Perez, 67, of Copiague, and the other allegedly spearheaded by Manuel Cabrera, 62, of Lindenhurst. Investigators seized a total of 14 vehicles which were used to carry out the alleged pattern of thefts and recovered an estimated 25,000 pounds of stolen clothing.
“During the course of our investigation we identified 16 individuals involved in this massive burglary and theft operation,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “Since November 2024, the charged defendants collectively stole over half a million pounds of donated clothing from donation bins meant for the poor and homeless. These charges demonstrate that you cannot steal donations meant for charity in Suffolk County and repurpose them for your own personal gain. We will use every law enforcement tool at our disposal to see that these types of criminals are prosecuted and brought to justice.”
“By these thieves targeting donation bins, they stole from vulnerable residents and from the organizations that work tirelessly to support them. Through the dedicated work of these investigators, we’ve helped dismantle an organized operation and sent a message that Suffolk County will not tolerate this kind of exploitation,” said Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. “The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office is proud to stand alongside the District Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners in bringing these criminals to face justice.”
“Donation bins are placed in our communities as a gesture of goodwill, intended to help those in need,” Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina added. “Unfortunately, these criminals exploited that generosity, stealing donations and profiting at the expense of others. This investigation highlights the effectiveness of coordinated law enforcement efforts in uncovering and stopping organized criminal activity.”
“The U.S. Secret Service stands with its partner agencies in stamping out fraud schemes affecting the entire Long Island community,” said Resident Agent in Charge Steven Choma of the Secret Service’s Long Island Resident Office.
According to the investigation, between November 2024 and September 2025, Perez and Cabrera each allegedly separately conspired with runners, comprised of a total of seven charged defendants, to allegedly burglarize donation bins, on hundreds of occasions.
Perez’ runners — Kevin Molina, Alexander Quinteros, Omar Rosasaravia, Luis Castillo Ramos, and two juvenile defendants — each had specific routes and worked long hours overnight to allegedly engage in a pattern of thefts of used clothing donations across Suffolk County targeting clothing donation bins owned and operated by multiple victims including the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a local and international charity.
Perez is the owner of multiple Ford Econoline vans which he and his co-conspirators allegedly drove around Suffolk County on more than 100 different occasions making stops at multiple clothing donation bins. When they arrived, one of the crew members would shove himself into the bin through the “donation port.” Once inside, bags containing clothing donations were passed to an accomplice waiting outside who would then load them into one of Perez’ waiting vans.
On over 70 occasions during the same time period, Perez’ vans allegedly travelled to a used clothing export business located in Nassau County. On these occasions, more than 285,000 pounds of stolen clothing were sold to the exporter and, in exchange, Perez received payments in excess of $100,000.
Cabrera also allegedly owned multiple Ford Econoline vans which co-conspirator Rodriguez Martinez and other presently unidentified co-conspirators drove around Suffolk County for hours at a time on over 100 different occasions. During these trips around Suffolk County, Cabrera’s co-conspirators made stops at multiple clothing donation bins and like Perez’ crew, would allegedly physically climb into the bin through the “donation port.” Once inside, bags containing clothing donations were passed to an accomplice waiting outside, who would then load them into one of Cabrera’s waiting vans. On over 100 occasions during the same time period, Cabrera’s vans allegedly travelled to the exporter where over 280,000 pounds of stolen clothing were sold. In exchange, Cabrera received payments in excess of $90,000.
While investigating the Perez and Cabrera crews, investigators identified the remaining seven defendants as individuals who also stole clothing from donation bins, but not as part of the Perez or Cabrera crews.
Elix Castillo Ramos, Emerson Castillo Ramos, Jaime Vallejos Saenz, Yuri Palomino Yllisca, Yunior Ipinasuchite, Alexi Zelaya Cruz, and Denis Sarmiento Vincente also utilized vehicles to drive to clothing donation bins located in Suffolk County, aid an accomplice in physically climbing inside of the bin, and then steal clothing from inside before fleeing in a waiting vehicle.
On September 28, 2025, Perez was arraigned before District Court Judge John B. Zollo for one count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a Class C felony; 10 counts of Burglary in the Third Degree, Class D felonies, and one count of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony.
Zollo ordered Perez held on $10,000 cash, $30,000 bond or $100,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. Perez is due back in court on October 9, 2025.
Perez allegedly conspired with Molina, Quinteros, Rosasaravia, and Castillo Ramos and two juveniles (Juvenile One and Juvenile Two) in order to carry about the alleged thefts. (The juveniles are not named because of their ages) Perez’ co-conspirators were arrested and charged as follows.
- On October 1, 2025, Molina, 35, of Wyandanch, was arraigned before District Court Judge Evan S. Tanenbaum for 16 counts of Burglary in the Third Degree, Class D felonies, and one count of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony. Tanenbaum ordered MOLINA to be placed on supervised release. MOLINA is due back in court on October 28, 2025.
- On September 28, 2025, Juvenile One, aged 17, of Wyandanch, was arraigned before Zollo for eleven counts of Burglary in the Third Degree, Class D felonies and one count of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony. Zollo ordered Juvenile One held on $10,000 cash, $30,000 bond or $100,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. However, Acting County Court Judge Karen Kerr ordered the bail removed and placed the defendant on supervised release. Juvenile One is due back in court on October 17, 2025.
- On September 28, 2025, Quinteros, 25, of Wyandanch, was arraigned before Zollo for two counts of Burglary in the Third Degree, Class D felonies, and one count of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony. Zollo ordered Quinteros held on $10,000 cash, $30,000 bond or $100,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. Quinteros is due back in court on October 15, 2025, and he is being represented by Oscar Crisafio, Esq.
- On September 29, 2025, JUVENILE TWO, aged 17, of Brentwood, was arraigned before Kerr for eight counts of Burglary in the Third Degree, Class D felonies and one count of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony. Kerr ordered JUVENILE TWO placed on supervised release during the pendency of the case. JUVENILE 2 is due back in court on October 27, 2025.
- On September 28, 2025, Rosasaravia, 25, a Salvadoran national, was arraigned before Zollo for six counts of Burglary in the Third Degree, Class D felonies and one count of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony. Zollo ordered Rosasaravia held on $10,000 cash, $30,000 bond or $100,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. Rosasaravia is due back in court on October 20, 2025.
- On October 1, 2025, Castillo Ramos, 22, of Bay Shore, was charged and arraigned before Tanenbaum for two counts of Burglary in the Third Degree, Class D felonies and one count of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony. Tanenbaum ordered Castillo Ramos to be released on his own recognizance because his charges are considered non-bail eligible under current New York State law, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set bail. Castillo Ramos is due back in court on October 21, 2025.
- On September 28, 2025, Cabrera was arraigned before Zollo for one count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a Class C felony, three counts of Burglary in the Third Degree, Class D felonies and one count of Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree, a Class A felony. Zollo ordered Cabrera placed on supervised release Program GPS monitoring because his charges are considered non-bail eligible under current New York State law, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set bail. Cabrera is due back in court on October 27, 2025.
- On September 28, 2025, his co-conspirator Paul Rodriguez Martinez, 28, of Bay Shore, was arraigned before Zollo for three counts of Burglary in the Third Degree, Class D felonies and one count of Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree, a Class A felony. Zollo ordered Rodriguez Martinez placed on supervised release with GPS monitoring because his charges are considered non-bail eligible under current New York State law, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set bail. Rodriguez Martinez is due back in court on October 16, 2025.
While investigating the Perez and Cabrera conspiracies, investigators observed the remaining charged defendants also stealing clothing donations from inside clothing donation bins in Suffolk County.
Elix Castillo Ramos, Emerson Castillo Ramos, Vallejos Saenz, Palomino Yllisca, Ipinasuchite, Zelaya Cruz, and Sarmiento Vincente were arrested and charged as follows.
- On October 1, 2025, Elix Castillo Ramos, 36, a Honduran national, was arraigned before Tanenbaum for one count of Burglary in the Third Degree, a Class D felony. Tanenbaum ordered Elix Castillo Ramos to be released on his own recognizance because his charges are considered non-bail eligible under current New York State law, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set bail. Elix Castillo Ramos is due back in court on October 28, 2025.
- On October 1, 2025, Emerson Castillo Ramos, 20, a Honduran national, was arraigned before Judge Tanenbaum for one count of Burglary in the Third Degree, a Class D felony. Tanenbaum ordered Castillo Ramos released on his own recognizance because his charges are considered non-bail eligible under current New York State law, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set bail. Castillo Ramos is due back in court on October 29, 2025.
- On September 26, 2025, Vallejos Saenz, 33, of Wyandanch, was arraigned before Acting County Court Judge Pierce F. Cohalan for two counts of Burglary in the Third Degree, Class D felonies. Cohalan ordered Vallejos Saenz held on $10,000, $20,000 bond, or $100,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of his case. Vallejos Saenz is due back in court on October 29, 2025.
- On September 29, 2025, Palomino Yllisca, 34, a Peruvian national, was arraigned before Tanenbaum for seven counts of Burglary in the Third Degree, Class D felonies. Tanenbaum ordered Palomino Yllisca to be released on his own recognizance. Palomino Yllisca is due back in court on October 28, 2025, and is being represented by Peter Meyer, Esq.
- On September 29, 2025, Ipinasuchite, 21, a Guatemalan national, was arraigned before Judge Tanenbaum for six counts of Burglary in the Third Degree, Class D felonies. Tanenbaum ordered Ipinasuchite held on $15,000, $30,000 bond, or $150,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. Ipinasuchite is due back in court on October 24, 2025.
- On September 29, 2025, Zelaya Cruz, 19, a Honduran national, was arraigned before Tanenbaum for 10 counts of Burglary in the Third Degree, Class D felonies. Tanenbaum ordered Zelaya Cruz held at $10,000, $20,000 bond, or $100,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of his case. Zelaya Cruz is due back in court on October 27, 2025.
- On September 26, 2025, Sarmiento Vincente, 23, of Dix Hills, was arraigned before Cohalan for one count of Burglary in the Third Degree, a Class D felony. Cohalan ordered Sarmiento Vincente placed on supervised release during the pendency of case. Sarmiento Vincente is due back in court on October 21, 2025.