Fossil Raider Cue Gets 57 Months

HARTFORD, CT – Yoandrys Cue, 31, a Cuban national last known to be residing in Florida, will spend the next 57 months behind bars for his role in a sophisticated, multistate burglary ring that targeted high-end watch retailers. U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny delivered the sentence in Hartford today, followed by three years of supervised release. Cue’s conviction is the latest fallout from a sprawling investigation that spanned several states and involved the theft of over $1.8 million in merchandise.

The crime spree kicked off in August 2013, when Cue, along with Alionis Perez and others, traveled from New Jersey to Clinton, Connecticut. They hit the Fossil store, expertly disabling the alarm and making off with approximately $250,000 worth of watches. This was just the beginning. The crew continued their rampage, hitting stores in Kittery, Maine, and Miramar Beach, Florida, over the following weeks, netting another $170,000 in stolen goods. Their targets weren’t just limited to Fossil; they expanded to include other luxury brands.

October proved particularly lucrative – and brazen – for the group. They successfully burglarized Fossil stores in Hagerstown, Maryland, making away with a staggering $750,000 in watches, and Grove City, Pennsylvania, where they pilfered $195,000 worth. The operation wasn’t limited to direct theft; they also engaged in vehicle theft to facilitate their crimes. On November 22, 2013, the crew stole a van in Massachusetts, which they then used to hit a Michael Kors store in Lee, Mass., snatching $500,000 in watches and bags. The van was later ditched in Staten Island, New York, before the crew returned to New Jersey with their ill-gotten gains.

Cue pleaded guilty on May 20, 2016, to one count of conspiracy to engage in the interstate transportation of stolen property. He was already in custody at the time, serving time on an unrelated burglary conviction. Perez, his accomplice, also pleaded guilty to similar charges, along with two additional burglaries committed in Kansas and Tennessee in August 2014, and received a 60-month sentence on August 18, 2016. Judge Chatigny ordered both Cue and Perez to collectively pay $1.865 million in restitution to the impacted businesses.

The investigation, a collaborative effort between the FBI and numerous state and local law enforcement agencies – including police departments in Clinton, Kittery, and Lee, and sheriff’s offices in Walton County, Washington County, and Berkshire County – demonstrates the reach of organized crime and the dedication required to dismantle these networks. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony E. Kaplan, Heather Cherry, and Lee Deneke spearheaded the prosecution, bringing the perpetrators to justice after years of meticulous investigation.

This case serves as a stark reminder that interstate criminal activity will not be tolerated. The combined efforts of federal and local authorities ensure that those who profit from such schemes will be held accountable, regardless of state lines. Cue’s 57-month sentence, while a significant punishment, barely scratches the surface of the damage inflicted on the businesses and communities affected by this calculated burglary spree.