November 21, 2000

MULTIMILLION DOLLAR AUTO THEFT RING SMASHED; 17 INDICTED INCLUDING 6 UNDER NEW YORK STATE ORGANIZED CRIME CONTROL ACT

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown, joined by New York City Police Commissioner Bernard B. Kerik and New York State Superintendent of Insurance Neil D. Levin, announced today the indictment of 17 individuals in connection with the operation of a multimillion dollar auto theft, dismantling and stolen parts ring operating in Queens and Brooklyn. Six of the defendants are charged under the State's Organized Crime Control Act with operating a criminal enterprise as principals in the ring and 11 others are charged separately.

District Attorney Brown said, "These indictments strike another blow in law enforcement's continuing offensive against auto crime in Queens - - an offensive that has resulted in a decline of from over 50,000 cars reported stolen in 1991 to 14,109 in 1999. Today's case, which is the result of a joint investigation by my office's Organized Crime and Rackets Bureau and the NYPD's Auto Crime Division, removes a highly active auto theft ring from the streets of Southern Queens and Northern Brooklyn. Information gathered by detectives reveals that this ring has been responsible for the theft of approximately 80 autos, vans and motorcycles worth $1 million in the last eight months alone."

Commissioner Kerik said, "With these indictments, the NYPD and our partners in the law enforcement community drive yet another major auto theft ring to its knees. Over the past year, NYPD investigators have hit auto crime from every angle, dismantling organized rings involved in insurance scams, fraudulent salvage yards, and stolen auto parts. Today, with the help of the Queens District Attorney, we complete the cycle - wiping out a multimillion dollar "steal to order" enterprise that preyed on the car owners of Queens and Brooklyn."

New York State Superintendent Levin said, "The message is clear - in New York State, we will stop at nothing to dismantle these crime rings and protect consumers from insurance fraud which increases auto insurance costs for New York's honest premium paying consumers. I would like to applaud the hard work done by the Queens District Attorney's Office, the New York City Police Department, and our investigators. These indictments are the latest example of the Insurance Department's tough anti-fraud effort. Under Governor Pataki's leadership we have devoted new resources to weed out insurance fraud and our efforts to protect New York State consumers from insurance fraud and higher rates are working - arrests are up 178% and convictions are up 145% since 1995."

According to the charges, Robert Flock, 29, of 97-38 95th Road, Ozone Park, was the manager and operator of the theft and dismantling ring. It is alleged that he would receive orders for specific vehicle parts over the telephone from defendants Harold Ramprasad of Centerville Auto Specialists in Queens, Anthony Pavone of Class A Cars in Brooklyn and Arnold Rosario of 4 Aces Motor Sports in the Bronx, among others. As the manager of the criminal enterprise, Flock would then allegedly give orders to various thieves, known as "steal men", and dismantlers, known as "cutters", like Joseph Lampisona, Mark Bryzgiel, Jose Roblez and Ray Verdecchia to go out and steal the appropriate vehicle in order to obtain the requested parts. Once the vehicles were stolen, they were allegedly transported to an area known as "The Weeds" - - in the vicinity of 78th Street and Forbell Street on the Brooklyn Queens border - - or to "The Bahas" - - an area adjacent to the Belt Parkway near Fountain Avenue or to Centerville Auto Specialists at 98-31 Linden Boulevard where they were dismantled. The requested parts were then allegedly taken to the various auto body shops that had ordered them.

District Attorney Brown said, "In addition to stealing cars, dismantling them and trafficking in stolen parts, the defendant Flock, is charged with criminal possession of a loaded firearm. The charge stems from an alleged shooting incident last July 13 at the headquarters of the Latin Kings in Brooklyn. Charges filed in that case allege that Flock and others shot up the building in revenge for the theft of a motorcycle that he believed gang members had stolen from one of his associates. That incident, coupled with an alleged arson of three vehicles in Brooklyn and part of a residential building adjacent to a used car lot at 2792 W. 15th Street, Brooklyn indicate very clearly that the stolen auto parts business is not just lucrative, but also violent and dangerous."

The six defendants charged with Enterprise Corruption are Robert Flock, 29, of 97-38 95th Road, Ozone Park; Joseph Lampisona, 28, of 83-13 149th Place, Lindenwood; Harold Ramprasad, 35, of 95-02 Lefferts Boulevard, Ozone Park; Mark Bryzgiel, 22, of 79-04 91st Avenue, Ozone Park; Jose Roblez, 23, of 127-07 Sutter Avenue, Ozone Park; and Ray Verdecchia, 36, of 81-14 95th Avenue, Ozone Park. Enterprise Corruption carries a maximum penalty of up to 25 years in prison upon conviction. They and the other 11 defendants are also charged with grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property and unlawful dismantling among other crimes. They face up to 7 years in prison if convicted of grand larceny.

The investigation leading to the arrest was carried out by Detectives John Duggan, Det. Richard Smith and Sgt. William O'Brien of the Auto Crime Division which is under the supervision of Inspector James Dean and Lt. Gene Borelli and the overall supervision of Chief George Brown, Chief of the NYPD's Organized Crime Control Bureau and Investigator Ronald Georg of the District Attorney's Rackets Bureau.

Assistant District Attorney Joseph Lobosco of District Attorney Brown's Organized Crime and Rackets Bureau which is under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Gerard A. Brave and the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney Peter A. Crusco conducted the grand jury presentation and is in charge of the case.

District Attorney Brown acknowledged the assistance of the New York State Department of Insurance's Insurance Fraud Unit in the investigation.

It should be noted that an indictment is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.