Maximo Nunez, Stealing Utility Vehicles, New York 2021

Grimy Times Exclusive: MAXIMO NUNEZ, a 28-year-old Bronx resident, was arrested yesterday morning and charged with stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of construction utility vehicles from New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments. According to the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, and Jocelyn E. Strauber, the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation, NUNEZ and his co-conspirators carried out a scheme to steal valuable construction equipment from NYCHA facilities.

The alleged theft occurred on at least 13 different occasions between January 2021 and September 2022, with NUNEZ and his co-conspirators stealing at least 16 utility vehicles from over a dozen NYCHA developments throughout New York City. The vehicles, which are valued between $25,000 to $65,000 each, were used to complete regular construction and maintenance tasks.

NUNEZ and his co-conspirators stole the utility vehicles in the middle of the night when NYCHA employees were not present, often using large trucks to carry out their scheme. The stolen vehicles were then sold to individuals who did not know they were stolen, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in profit for the defendants.

The New York City Department of Investigation, assisted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, conducted an investigation into the thefts, including the placement of GPS tracking devices on certain NYCHA utility vehicles. As a result of the investigation, one of the allegedly stolen vehicles was recovered.

NUNEZ is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit theft of government property, which carries a maximum potential sentence of five years in prison, and one count of theft of government property, which carries a maximum potential sentence of 10 years in prison.

The defendant will be presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn later today. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Department of Investigation and the Special Agents and Investigative Analysts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jackie Delligatti leading the prosecution. The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and NUNEZ is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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