Queens man gets 30 years for role in North Shore burglaries

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Queens man gets 30 years for role in North Shore burglaries
A Queens man was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Monday for his role in a string of North Shore burglaries. (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

A Queens man who was convicted for his role in a burglary ring that targeted North Shore homes in 2018 was sentenced to 30 years in prison Monday, according to officials.

Brayan Castano, 33, was part of a trio that stole more than $1 million in cash and currency from homes in Manhasset, Old Westbury, Jericho and Woodbury, officials said. The Nassau County District Attorney’s Office said Castano and Andres Zapata burglarized or attempted to burglarize nine homes in gated communities throughout the North Shore between May 2018-September 2018. Oscar Vera, the third member of the group named by the DA, faces the same charges but has not been convicted.

Items they stole included designer handbags, jewelry, U.S. and foreign currency, naturalization records and birth certificates, according to officials. Prosecutor Stefanie Palma, Monday, said the stolen items were not recovered, according to Newsday.

The trio targeted gated communities with one entrance into and out of the community and had a lookout stationed at the gate to alert the others if police responded to burglary reports, officials said. The nine incidents occurred on Thursday, Friday or Saturday nights and the trio entered through the homes by breaking rear windows or doors, officials said.

The first two burglaries took place on May 12, 2018, police said, with a Laurel Lane home in Old Westbury burglarized at 8:37 p.m., followed by a Kensington Circle home in Manhasset at 9:19 p.m. On May 18, 2018, at 8:28 p.m. another Laurel Lane home was burglarized, according to police.

A Stone Hill Drive home in Manhasset was burglarized on June 1, 2018, at 8:30 p.m., followed by a Woodbury home on June 23, 2018, at 8:31 p.m. and another Stone Hill Drive home in Manhasset on Aug. 10, 2018 at 9 p.m., police said.

Castano was convicted of seven counts of burglary in the second degree, attempted burglary in the second degree and possession of burglar’s tools in October 2021, officials said. Zapata, 24, was convicted on burglary and other charges in April and is awaiting sentencing, officials said. Vera has not yet been convicted of any charges and efforts to reach officials for further information were unavailing.

Castano’s attorney, Jeffrey Groder, said the crimes were committed when no individuals were home to ensure no one was hurt, according to Newsday. Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly told Newsday that the trio’s acts “left communities on edge” and lauded the work of local law enforcement and prosecutors during the trial.

Officials did not specify when Castano’s sentencing would commence.

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