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Connecticut man who feds say committed dozens of robberies in 3 months gets 28 years in prison | CNN

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Connecticut man who feds say committed dozens of robberies in 3 months gets 28 years in prison | CNN




CNN
 — 

A Connecticut man was sentenced Wednesday to 28 years in federal prison in connection with a string of robberies and carjackings in a three-month span in 2021, federal officials said.

Authorities alleged Christian Luis Velez-Ruiz, 25, of New Britain, committed 28 armed robberies of convenience stores, six armed carjackings and three other car thefts in Connecticut between September and December 2021, the US attorney’s office for that state said.

Velez-Ruiz’s sentence in US distirct court in Hartford stems from his guilty pleas last year to five counts involving some of the crimes. But in pleading guilty, he “took responsibility for all the offenses he committed during his crime spree,” the US attorney’s office said.

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“It was just a sad case for everyone, but the sentencing was not unexpected,” Velez-Ruiz’s attorney David A. Moraghan told CNN.

Federal prosecutors believed that Velez-Ruiz enjoyed the thrill of terrorizing his victims, according to the government’s sentencing memorandum.

“In almost every incident, he would rack the slide of his pistol in front of the victim to show them that he was ready to kill. He stuck his firearm inches from the victims’ face, made death threats, and demanded cash, cigarettes, and other properties,” the sentencing memorandum reads.

“(Velez-Ruiz) seemingly reveled in the fear he inflicted on his gunpoint victims,” the memorandum states. “That is the only explanation for the longevity and the frequency of his robbery spree.”

The defendant pleaded guilty in December to one count of carjacking, two counts of interference with commerce by robbery, and two counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, the US attorney’s office said.

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The series of crimes began in September 2021, officials say, with a carjacking.

Velez-Ruiz stole a woman’s car at gunpoint in New Britain on September 2, 2021, according to a criminal complaint filed in US district court.

Two hours later, he stole another car from the driveway of an elderly man in Southington, Connecticut, the criminal complaint reads.

Another example of his crimes, officials say, was a robbery at a gas station.

On September 12, 2021, he robbed the cashier of a gas station in Southington at gunpoint, according to the complaint. He ordered the cashier to place money in a black bag, and he also stole cigarettes, as well as the cashier’s necklace and bracelet, before fleeing, the complaint reads.

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In November 2021, the FBI announced a $25,000 reward for information leading to Velez-Ruiz’s arrest, and he was arrested about a month later after fleeing from police, the US attorney’s office said.



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‘I'm heartbroken': Biological mother of Waterbury victim speaks out

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‘I'm heartbroken': Biological mother of Waterbury victim speaks out



‘I’m heartbroken’: Biological mother of Waterbury victim speaks out – NBC Connecticut







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Missing Connecticut girl found alive 25 years after kidnapping with help from DNA testing

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Missing Connecticut girl found alive 25 years after kidnapping with help from DNA testing


Connecticut police have located a New Haven girl — now a woman — who went missing 25 years ago, when she was just 2 years old.

Andrea Reyes, 27, was abducted in October 1999 by her non-custodial, biological mother, Rosa Tenorio, who brought her to Mexico. 

“Thank you for sharing in our joy in finding our daughter Andrea. After 25 years, God has answered our prayers and blessed us with a chance to know her again,” Andrea’s stepmother said in an emotional statement during a March 12 press conference with the New Haven Police Department. “We recognize that this reacquaintance will have challenges, however, we are confident that God is building the path before us and leading our steps.”

Andrea’s father went on several trips to Mexico himself over the years to find his daughter, police said during the press conference.

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MAN DESCRIBES SHOCKING LIVING CONDITIONS HE ENDURED DURING 20-YEAR HOME CAPTIVITY: ‘UNIMAGINABLE’

Andrea Reyes, now 27, was abducted in October 1999 by her non-custodial, biological mother, Rosa Tenorio, who brought her to Mexico.  (NCMEC)

Andrea’s father and stepmother thanked law enforcement and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Her stepmother also said DNA technology helped law enforcement develop a lead that ultimately led them to Andrea, who currently lives in Mexico.

She added that they “do not lose sight for those families waiting for their loved ones to be found.”

“We keep you in our prayers, hoping for the day that you, too, can be reunited with your loved ones,” Andrea’s stepmother said. “As we establish new connections over these days and months, we ask for your prayers and respect for our privacy. We hope that our good news will one day be your good news.”

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CONNECTICUT TO AWARD NEARLY $6M TO FAMILY OF DISABLED MAN WRONGFULLY IMPRISONED FOR MURDER CONVICTION

NCMEC's age-progression photo image of Andrea Reyes.

NCMEC’s age-progression photo image of Andrea Reyes. (NCMEC)

Mexican authorities apparently identified Reyes and her mother in 2000, but “it was advised that the Government of Mexico would not take further action to remove Andrea from her mother,” New Haven PD Sgt. John Moore said during the press conference.

Andrea apparently contacted the man she believed to be her father in 2023, when Det. Kealyn Nivakoff with the New Haven Police Department began to re-investigate the case. To confirm her identity, New Haven police partnered with forensic genetic genealogy research company Othram, which ultimately confirmed a father-daughter relationship between Andrea and her father.

BIDEN CLEMENCY FOR ‘NON-VIOLENT’ INMATES INCLUDES CONNECTICUT CHILD KILLER

Family abductions are the second-most common type of child abduction in the United States, according to NCMEC.

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Andrea Reyes' father speaks during a March 12 press conference about finding his missing daughter after 25 years.

Andrea Reyes’ father speaks during a March 12 press conference about finding his missing daughter after 25 years. (Facebook/ New Haven PF)

In 2023, NCMEC received 1,185 family abduction cases and 59% of all AMBER Alerts that were issued were for family abductions.

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 “One of the biggest misconceptions about family abduction cases is that the children are safe and ‘not really missing’ because they’re with a parent,”  Angeline Hartmann, director of communications at NCMEC, said in a statement. “At NCMEC, we know that there is a lot of emotion behind these cases, and these scenarios can be unpredictable and dangerous. These children ARE missing and living a life on the run with their kidnapper. They’re forced to lie about who they are and are often isolated. The recent recoveries of Andrea Reyes and Aziz Khan remind everyone that these kids can be found, no matter how long they’ve been gone.”

An arrest warrant for Tenorio remains active.

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High School Basketball State Championships – Day 1

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High School Basketball State Championships – Day 1



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