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Authorities link four men to series of home break-ins targeting Indians, South Asians

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Authorities link four men to series of home break-ins targeting Indians, South Asians


Authorities on Friday said they broke up a crime ring that for six years targeted Indian and South Asian families, breaking into their homes and stealing millions of dollars worth of jewelry and cash.

The four Rhode Island men brothers Jovan Lemon, 29, of Providence, and Paul Lemon, 30, of Warwick, along with their father Paul Miller, 46, of Woonsocket, and Steven Berdugo, 28, of Providence are believed to have committed at least 43 burglaries in 25 Massachusetts communities, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said during a press conference.

The four men also have ties to a violent Rhode Island gang that is known to authorities there.

“This was really a case of persistent, dogged work,” Ryan said.

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‘Pursuing every lead’: Authorities say thieves are targeting homes owned by South Asians

The group is alleged to have broken into homes in Billerica, Boxborough, Carlisle, Easton, Hopkinton, Lincoln, Weston, Sudbury, Andover, Bellingham, Boxford, Franklin, Hudson, Littleton, Medway, Middleton, Millis, North Attleboro, Norwell, Pembroke, Seekonk, Sharon, Southborough, Wenham, and Westwood. Burglaries occurred between July 21, 2018, and March 30, 2024.

Four men were indicted by grand jury on April 18

On April 18, a Middlesex grand jury indicted each of the four men on 95 counts of unarmed burglary and breaking and entering into a dwelling during the daytime with the intent to commit a felony.

Ryan said home burglaries often leave victims feeling vulnerable and upset, but because these victims were targeted due to their nationality, it made them feel worse, she said.

“The items stolen not only had monetary value, but were items that were passed down in families from generation to generation,” she said.

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‘Hitting a bunch of communities’: Police say ‘distinctive’ pickup truck led to arrest of Marlborough man

Investigators, Ryan said, believe the victims were targeted because the suspects thought their households were more likely to contain precious metals, jewelry and other valuable heirlooms.

The total value of items stolen may be as much as $4 million.

DA: Suspects may have used Wi-Fi jammers to disable security cameras

Ryan called the group “sophisticated,” saying they were rarely caught on camera and may have used Wi-Fi jammers that would take home security cameras offline temporarily while they were committing burglaries, affecting both the homes they were in and those nearby.

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In addition, they never used cellphones during or immediately after the burglaries so they could not be tied to the affected area, Ryan said.

The group, Ryan said, also had member lists for temples, which they possibly used to know when they may be away for events and holidays. It was not known how they obtained these lists.

‘Lock your cars’: Police report rise in vehicles break-ins in Marlborough and Sudbury

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The burglars, she said, broke into the homes, usually through a second-floor window. They’d steal jewelry and cash and even safes that weighed as much as 400 pounds, throwing them out the window before taking them away.

Authorities served four search warrants on Friday morning in Rhode Island, recovering jewelry and a large amount of Indian currency. They also found several guns. All four men remain in custody in Rhode Island.

Arrests come after a nine-month investigation

“The theft crew we arrested today stole countless items of great monetary, emotional and cultural value from families in multiple states, and did so by violating the sanctity of their homes,” said Massachusetts State Police Lt. Col. Mark Cyr, head of the Division of Homeland Security. “Such brazen criminal actions will not be tolerated in our communities. This investigation highlights the dedication of our law enforcement partners to work collaboratively to take down complex criminal networks.”

Friday’s arrests come after a nine-month investigation by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, the State Police detective unit assigned to the District Attorney’s Office and the State Police Division of Homeland Security, including the MACrimeNet program operated by the State Police Fusion Center.

Also assisting in the investigation were police from every community affected by the break-ins, the Holliston, Northborough, Shrewsbury, Walpole, Wellesley and Westborough police, as well as several police departments in Rhode Island and the United States Marshals.

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It’s unknown when the four men will be brought to Massachusetts to be arraigned.

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on X @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.





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Rhode Island

Providence man arrested in connection to narcotics and firearms investigation | ABC6

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Providence man arrested in connection to narcotics and firearms investigation | ABC6


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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Rhode Island State Police said a Providence man was arrested after police allegedly discovered multiple narcotics and a gun inside two residences on Sept. 23.

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47-year-old Joel Garcia was charged with possession with the intent to deliver over 1 kilogram of fentanyl, possession with the intent to deliver over 1 kilogram of cocaine, possession with the intent to deliver one ounce to one kilogram of methamphetamine, possession with the intent to deliver fentanyl, possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, possession with the intent to deliver methamphetamine, possession of a firearm while committing a controlled substance violation, unlawful possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and distribution of a controlled substance in a school zone.

According to RISP, police received court-authorized search warrants for two residences in Providence in connection to a narcotics and firearms investigation.

Inside an apartment on Dresser Street, police allegedly seized 1.7 kilograms of fentanyl, 2.3 kilograms of cocaine, and 147 grams of methamphetamine.

Police also searched Garcia’s residence on Portland Street and allegedly seized one fully loaded pistol.

According to police, Garcia had allegedly used the apartment on Dresser Street to “store, package, and distribute large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine.”

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Garcia was arrested and charged.

RISP, Providence police, Cranston police, North Providence police, Johnston police, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Rhode Island National Guard Counterdrug Program assisted in the investigation.





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The Ocean State’s Bond With Robert Redford

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The Ocean State’s Bond With Robert Redford


Millions have been mourning the death of a cinematic icon over the last week with the passing of Robert Redford at age 89.

The award-winning actor is arguably one of the most famous of all time. With over 70 films to his credit on screen and nine he directed throughout his career, Redford’s work in cinema stands out as some of the greatest.

Though only two of Redford’s movies were ever filmed in Rhode Island, the Oscar-winning actor has a deep connection with the Ocean State.

Redford’s Family Roots Near Rhode Island

Though no Redfords actually lived in Rhode Island, Robert’s family was longtime residents of Stonington, CT and several members were born in nearby Westerly, RI.

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READ MORE: ‘Sopranos’ Star Officially Becomes a Rhode Island Resident

Throughout Robert Redford’s childhood there were visits to his grandparents in Stonington, where his grandfather worked as a milkman.

Presumably this time in Stonington meant crossing the state line into Westerly on more than one occasion in his youth and perhaps led to his love of the Rhode Island seaside in later years.

Filming The Great Gatsby in Newport

During his career, Redford came to Newport in the 1970s to film The Great Gatsby at the historic Rosecliff Mansion. Decades later he returned to Rhode Island with the science fiction film The Discovery and even wrote a thank you letter to Newport,  praising their preservation efforts in the city.

READ MORE: HGTV Says You Need to Drive This Road in Newport

Though when he did ultimately settle in New England, Redford chose Weston, CT as his home for almost two decades. He purchased a home not too far from his close friend and fellow actor, Paul Newman.

Evan Agostini/Getty Images

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Rhode Island Honors Robert Redford

Rhode Island never forgot its ties to the beloved actor however. In 2002 Redford was asked to be the commencement speaker at Brown University and that same year Trinity Repertory Company awarded him a Pell Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts.

Just one of the many lifetime achievement awards Robert Redford would go on to accumulate during his illustrious career.

20 Stars Who Hail From Rhode Island

Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the nation, but it has been home to many celebrities. Though some have moved here, filmed here or attended school here, only a handful were actually born here. These are those celebrities.

Gallery Credit: Nancy Hall

Academy Award and Golden Globe Winners from Massachusetts

These Massachusetts natives have taken home some of Hollywood’s top honors.

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Gallery Credit: Michaela Johnson

30 Things To Do in Newport Any Time of Year

Newport has always been seen as a summer destination. Wealthy New Yorkers used to escape the city in the hotter months for this picturesque seaside spot and the label as a summer vacation destination began.

There are, however, plenty of things to do in this historic town in any season and we’ve found a few that you may want to try the next time you head to Newport.

Gallery Credit: Nancy Hall





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GoLocalProv | Sports | VIDEO: Providence’s Lassiter Scores 44-Yard TD in Vanderbilt’s Upset Over #11 South Carolina

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GoLocalProv | Sports | VIDEO: Providence’s Lassiter Scores 44-Yard TD in Vanderbilt’s Upset Over #11 South Carolina


Sunday, September 14, 2025

 

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Zell Lassiter
PHOTO: Via Vanderbilt

Providence’s Jamezell Lassiter had a big play on a huge stage on Saturday when Vanderbilt football upset #11 South Carolina. SEE 7:25 MARK.

Lassiter, who played for the Edgewood Eagles and the Mount Hope Cowboys and attended the San Miguel School in Providence, smoked the Gamecocks on a 44-yard touchdown score.

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Vanderbilt won 31-7 over No. 11 South Carolina, snapping a 16-game losing streak between the two programs. 

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Zell Lassiter PHOTO: Vanderbilt Athletics

In 2024, GoLocal sports columnist Robert McMahon wrote about Lassiter’s journey to the top Division I program:

His athletic skills impressed his San Miguel classmates. Flag football, soccer, basketball—Jamezell could do it all. He was a natural athlete.

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But the transformation of Zell, as he likes to be called, happened in the San Miguel classroom. 

READ MORE HERE

 

 

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