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Press Release

Two Men Plead Guilty to Charges Stemming from Multi-State Burglary Spree

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Connecticut

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Patricia M. Ferrick, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that ALIONIS PEREZ, 40, a citizen of Cuba last residing in New Jersey, and YOANDRYS CUE, 30, a citizen of Cuba last residing in Florida, have pleaded guilty in Hartford federal court to engaging in a conspiracy to burglarize outlet stores in six states between August and November 2013.  PEREZ also pleaded guilty to engaging in a separate conspiracy to burglarize stores in Kansas and Tennessee in August 2014.  CUE pleaded guilty on May 20, 2016, and PEREZ pleaded guilty today.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 2, 2013, PEREZ, CUE and others traveled from New Jersey to Connecticut.  On August 3, 2013, PEREZ, CUE and others 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, CUE and others attempted to break into the Movado store located in Kittery, Maine.

On September 19, 2013, PEREZ, CUE 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, CUE and others broke into the Fossil store located in Hagerstown, Md., and stole watches valued at approximately $750,000.

On October 24, 2013, PEREZ, CUE 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, CUE and others traveled from New Jersey to Massachusetts and stole a van.  On November 23, 2013, PEREZ, CUE and others 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.

In relation to this scheme, PEREZ and CUE each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to engage in the interstate transportation of stolen property.

PEREZ also pleaded guilty to the same charge in relation to a separate burglary scheme.

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.

In relation to this scheme, PEREZ was charged by indictment in the Middle District of Tennessee.  The case was transferred to the District of Connecticut for further prosecution.

PEREZ and CUE are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford on August 18 and August 12, respectively.  PEREZ faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and CUE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.  Each defendant also faces a maximum fine of approximately $3.6 million, and an order of restitution in the amount of $1.865 million.  They are both detained.

This ongoing 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.

Updated May 23, 2016