Randall Jeremy Aldana-Cruz, 20, of Flushing, N.Y. (Credit: Montgomery County DA)
A New York man and Colombian national is the latest to be sentenced in connection with a large-scale burglary ring that investigators say targeted Asian business owners across Pennsylvania.
Randall Jeremy Aldana-Cruz, 20, of Flushing, N.Y., was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to four to 10 years in state prison after pleading guilty to charges of corrupt organizations, burglary, and attempted burglary. His sentence, imposed by Judge Risa Vetri Ferman, was part of a negotiated plea agreement, according to The Times Herald.
Aldana-Cruz is among 11 men — all Colombian nationals living in Queens — charged in 2024 for a series of break-ins that spanned nine Pennsylvania counties, including Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, Berks, Lancaster, Lehigh, Northampton, Delaware, and Cambria.
Prosecutors said the group was tied to 13 residential burglaries and three attempted break-ins between July and December 2024, with the thieves targeting homes in Abington, Lower Merion, Towamencin, Horsham, and beyond, according to the report.
Aldana-Cruz and his co-defendants were ordered to pay more than $300,000 in restitution, and several have already begun serving identical sentences.
Investigators said the group operated as an organized network that deliberately sought out Asian-American homeowners, particularly those who owned restaurants, salons, or markets, based on the belief they kept cash at home.
According to court documents cited by The Times Herald, the crew used wireless surveillance cameras disguised in fake grass or everyday objects to monitor families’ movements and ensure residents were away before breaking in.
Some members allegedly conducted advance surveillance at victims’ businesses, even sending photos to others to confirm the targets were not home, the article said.
Detectives described the organization as “highly coordinated,” employing tactics that mirrored professional law enforcement operations.
Members allegedly used maps, assigned roles, and adopted disguises such as joggers, landscapers, and delivery drivers to blend into neighborhoods. The group’s reach extended beyond Pennsylvania, with authorities linking its methods to similar crimes in New Jersey, New York, Delaware, and Ohio.
Assistant District Attorney Gabriella Eileen Glenning, who prosecuted the case, said prison time was warranted because the thieves exploited cultural and economic vulnerabilities.
None of the homeowners were present during the burglaries. Authorities said after the men complete their prison sentences, they will likely face federal immigration and deportation proceedings, according to the article.
Read the full report at The Times Herald.
