New Jersey Resident Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Multi-State Burglary Spree

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ALIONIS PEREZ, 40, a citizen of Cuba last residing in New Jersey, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for participating in a multi-state burglary spree.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 2, 2013, PEREZ and others traveled from New Jersey to Connecticut.  The next day, they broke into the Fossil store located in Clinton, Connecticut, disabled the alarm system and stole watches valued at approximately of $250,000.  Following the burglary, they returned to New Jersey with the stolen merchandise.

On August 18, 2013, PEREZ and others attempted to break into the Movado store located in Kittery, Maine.

On September 19, 2013, PEREZ and others broke into the Fossil store located in Miramar Beach, Fla., and stole watches valued at approximately of $170,000.

On October 4, 2013, PEREZ and others broke into the Fossil store located in Hagerstown, Md., and stole watches valued at approximately $750,000.

On October 24, 2013, PEREZ and others broke into the Fossil store located in Grove City, Penn., and stole watches valued at approximately $195,000.

On November 22, 2013, PEREZ and others traveled from New Jersey to Massachusetts and stole a van.  The next day, they broke into the Michael Kors store in Lee, Mass., disabled the alarm system and stole watches and bag valued at approximately $500,000.  The conspirators then traveled from Massachusetts, disposed of the stolen van in Staten Island, New York, and returned to New Jersey with the stolen merchandise.

During the evening of August 7 or early morning hours of August 8, 2014, PEREZ and others burglarized a Radio Shack store located in Chesterfield, Mo.  However, the burglary was interrupted and they were able to steal only a small amount of cash.

The following evening, PEREZ and others burglarized a Sunglass Hut Store located in Leawood, Kan., and stole 623 pairs of sunglasses valued at approximately $113,000.

In the early morning hours of August 10, 2014, PEREZ and others burglarized a Radio Shack in Franklin, Tenn., and stole approximately 50 smartphones valued at approximately $28,000.  Later that day, PEREZ and his co-conspirators were arrested in a hotel room in Nashville, Tenn.  The property stolen from the Sunglass Hut in Kansas and Radio Shack in Tennessee was recovered in connection with the arrest.

PEREZ has been detained since his arrest on August 10, 2014.  On May 23, 2016, he pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to engage in the interstate transportation of stolen property.

Judge Chatigny ordered PEREZ to pay restitution in the amount of $1.865 million.

This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Clinton (Conn.) Police Department, Kittery (Maine) Police Department, Walton County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office, Washington County (Md.) Sheriff’s Office, Pennsylvania State Police, Lee (Mass.) Police Department, Berkshire County (Mass.) Sheriff’s Office, Franklin (Tenn.) Police Department and Nashville (Tenn.) Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony E. Kaplan and Heather Cherry in the District of Connecticut, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Deneke in the Middle District of Tennessee.