WHITE PLAINS – Ten people, including eight residents of Westchester County, have been charged in an indictment with participating in a conspiracy to commit robberies, including at least nine robberies and attempted robberies in Westchester County and the Bronx. The indictment also charges some of the defendants with carrying, brandishing and discharging firearms in connection with the robbery conspiracy.
Seven of the defendants were arrested on Wednesday. Three were already in custody on state charges.
According to the allegations, the group was based primarily in Westchester and engaged in thefts, burglaries and robberies, both armed and unarmed, in over 50 commercial establishments in Westchester, Rockland, Dutchess, Putnam counties in the Mid-Hudson Valley as well as in Fairfield, Connecticut. They allegedly targeted both commercial establishments and drug dealers and worked to sell drugs, including drugs stolen from drug dealers during robberies and other thefts.
Charged were Jason Auza, 27; Dennis Brown, 36; Nelson Cartagena,30; Andre Emilien, 33; Guillermo Fernandez, 43; Kasean Galloway, 20; and John Nassar, 42, all of Yonkers and Paul Vallaro, 39, of Elmsford. Also charged were Alex Ayala, 37, and Elbio Espaillat, 42, of the Bronx.
