Victor Parra, the leader of an interstate migrant moped gang, was arrested in the Bronx after three months on the run. The gang, known for peddling stolen goods from New York to Florida and South America, was responsible for various crimes in multiple states. Parra, along with another member of the gang, was running the operation from a Bronx apartment before their arrest.
Law enforcement sources stressed the importance of enforcing minor violations like helmet laws and vehicle laws in order to bring in bigger criminals. Parra, a Venezuelan migrant, had fled the city as authorities closed in on the operation and had been hiding out in Chicago and Miami before his capture. The gang was known for being bold, with one member boasting to police upon his arrest that he never thought they would catch him.
The gang was linked to various heists in New York City, New Jersey, Yonkers, and Florida, with some members involved in carjackings and gunpoint robberies. Parra and Navas were known to frequently travel to Florida to sell the stolen goods. They also allegedly smuggled migrants into the country illegally to join their criminal activities, with the proceeds being spent lavishly on items like swimming pools in Colombia.
Parra is currently facing charges of possession of stolen property and other offenses, with a bail set at $50,000 or a bond of $100,000. The operation was furthered by a Texas-based company owned by a Venezuelan couple, who were also involved in the fencing of stolen goods. Some of the gang’s activities were captured on surveillance footage, providing evidence for their crimes.
Despite the arrest of Parra and Navas, two other individuals who were riding on the moped during the bust were released without charges. The arrest of Parra is a significant accomplishment for law enforcement, as it dismantles a major criminal operation that had been causing chaos in various states. The gang’s brazen activities and involvement in illegal smuggling highlight the need for continued enforcement of minor laws to prevent larger crimes from occurring in society.
