New York, NY – In a shocking turn of events, Rafael Astacio, a former detective with the New York City Police Department, was sentenced to 72 months of imprisonment for his role in a string of $8 million burglaries committed between 2010 and 2012.
The brazen crimes, which targeted both commercial and residential properties in the Eastern District of New York, resulted in the theft of approximately $8,000,000 in cash and property. Astacio personally participated in 11 of these burglaries, stealing over $5.3 million in cash and property.
Astacio’s crimes were made possible by the use of high-tech tools, including cell phone jammers, police scanners, and an automobile tracking device. His position with the NYPD also allowed him to gain access to sensitive information, including the home addresses of potential burglary targets.
Astacio’s sentence was announced by Robert L. Capers, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, who praised the efforts of the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Nassau County Police Department, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and the New York City Police Department for their assistance in the case.
Astacio was also ordered to pay a $200,000 forfeiture money judgment and restitution in the amount of $1.8 million. His guilty plea to conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property and filing a fraudulent tax return was previously accepted by the court.
According to court filings, Astacio’s crew committed a total of 37 commercial burglaries and 10 residential burglaries during the three-year period. The crew’s activities were carried out with ease, thanks to Astacio’s access to sensitive information and his use of high-tech tools.
For years, Astacio and his crew victimized the very people he swore to protect, stealing money and property from innocent families and businesses. His sentence serves as a reminder that no one is above the law, and those who commit crimes will be held accountable.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Violent Crime|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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