Samir Desai Calls for Hate Crime Cassification as Authorities Describe a Sophisticated Multistate Burglary Ring in Massachusetts

WOBURN, Mass. — Indian American community leader Samir Desai, whose home in Lincoln, MA, was once burglarized, said fear continues to ripple through the community.

“We are being singled out, and it hasn’t stopped. We are an immigrant community—educated, successful, and often living in good homes. Our culture, celebrations, and jewelry are visible, and that makes us targets,” Desai said. “We are a minority immigrant community, and we are scared. The current political environment is not helping and may be encouraging criminals who think they can get away with targeting immigrants.”

His remarks come as two New York men are set to be arraigned in Woburn District Court in connection with a series of highly coordinated residential break-ins targeting Indian and East Asian households across Middlesex County, according to authorities.

Marian Ryan confirmed that David Rondon-Castro, 26, and Yeison Ramirez-Garcia, 25, both of Queens, New York, face charges of conspiracy to commit residential break-ins. The incidents occurred between June and July 2025 in Woburn, Wilmington, Burlington, and North Reading.

Prosecutors allege the suspects broke into at least five homes, stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and jewelry. Authorities say the operation specifically targeted residents based on race and ethnicity, with suspects allegedly believing victims were more likely to possess valuable heirlooms, gold, and cash.

“These types of calculated and sophisticated break-ins have had a chilling effect on our communities,” Ryan said, noting that the impact extends far beyond financial loss.

Desai urged officials to recognize the broader implications of the pattern.

“Law enforcement, lawyers, and lawmakers need to take this seriously and classify harassing and robbing Indians as a hate crime,” he said.

Investigators described the operation as complex and technologically advanced. Authorities say the suspects used GPS trackers attached to victims’ vehicles, hidden surveillance cameras around homes, and Wi-Fi jammers to disable security systems, while limiting cellphone use to avoid detection.

The investigation, led by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office in collaboration with the Massachusetts State Police Fusion Center and multiple local departments, involved extensive analysis of license plate data and cellphone records. Officials say the break-ins were part of a broader, multistate operation across the East Coast.

Using court-authorized real-time cellphone tracking, investigators traced the suspects to a rental property outside Baltimore, where a covert surveillance operation confirmed it was being used as a base for planning and executing the crimes.

On March 1, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the location, recovering surveillance cameras, battery packs, Wi-Fi hotspots, and Wi-Fi jammers consistent with those used in the Middlesex County incidents. Rondon-Castro and Ramirez-Garcia were arrested at the scene and transported to Massachusetts for arraignment.

A third suspect, Itan Dami Beltran, 26, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was arrested separately in New York City and is expected to be brought to Massachusetts later this week to face similar charges.

Despite the arrests, Desai said the community is mobilizing to address ongoing concerns.

“We are putting together a task force, starting outreach and writing campaigns, and preparing to advocate more actively to protect our families,” he said.

He also acknowledged the efforts of law enforcement in pursuing the case.

“I want to thank District Attorney Marian Ryan and her team for working closely with the community and aggressively pursuing those responsible beyond the initial robberies. I’ve stayed engaged to help keep officials informed and alert the community about ongoing risks.”

The case involves coordination among multiple agencies, including the Massachusetts State Police, local police departments in Massachusetts and New York, the Baltimore County Sheriff’s Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as officials work to dismantle what they describe as an organized burglary network.