Defendant Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Brazen Burglary Ring

A brazen burglary ring that wreaked havoc on businesses in Connecticut, New York, and elsewhere has left one member behind bars. Willie Baines, 47, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to 63 months of imprisonment for participating in the burglary ring, which stole millions of dollars in vehicles, phones, ATMs, and other merchandise.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Baines participated in a theft ring that primarily burglarized car dealerships and mobile phone stores in Connecticut and New York between June 2020 and January 2021. The group stole vehicle key fobs and vehicles from dealerships and cell phones, electronics, and other merchandise from mobile phone stores. They also stole ATMs from check cashing businesses and burglarized video game stores.

The burglary ring, led by Josepher Cartagena and Alexander Santiago, committed more than 180 burglaries and stole more than $4 million in property. They often burglarized multiple locations in one night and, on numerous occasions, escaped from police by engaging the police in high-speed chases that had to be terminated for safety reasons.

Baines and his associates regularly carried firearms during the burglary spree. On December 22, 2020, Baines was arrested by New York City Police on state charges after a high-speed pursuit and a foot chase. Baines was driving a stolen vehicle that contained stolen property, and he possessed a firearm at the time of his arrest.

Baines has been detained since March 11, 2021, after his state firearm charge was adopted for federal prosecution in the Southern District of New York. He pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm and, on November 8, 2021, was sentenced to 36 months of imprisonment.

On December 1, 2022, Baines pleaded guilty in the District of Connecticut to possession of stolen property. His sentencing brings an end to a case that spanned multiple locations and involved numerous law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Connecticut State Police.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ruff. The brazen burglary ring highlights the importance of law enforcement working together to bring justice to those who break the law.

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