A group of eight illegal migrants, including a child, was found squatting in the basement of a New York City apartment and are facing drugs and weapons charges after police found ketamine, cocaine, and guns on the property. The migrants were busted by NYPD officers following a report of a person displaying a gun at the apartment. Two of the suspects, Hector Desousa-Villalta and Javier Alborno, were apprehended by police attempting to flee with firearms. The search of the basement apartment revealed additional weapons, ammunition, and controlled substances, including ketamine and cocaine. A 7-year-old child was also found inside the apartment, although it is unknown who the child’s parents are.
The suspects, mostly from Venezuela, were all squatting in the apartment, according to sources. Video from the scene showed a chaotic backyard with items strewn about, such as bags of trash, a chair, a mattress, and an inflatable pool. Documents revealed that the landlord had moved to evict the tenants of the building in October after their lease ended, although it’s unclear if people are still squatting in the house. Eight individuals, including one woman, were arrested and charged with criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a controlled substance, and acting in a manner injurious to a child.
Desousa-Villalta, who was waving a gun during the incident, had been arrested for attempted murder the previous year but was released. Alborno, another suspect, was indicted for possession of a loaded gun in September and was still in custody. Vaamondes-Barrios, also in custody, has outstanding warrants for retail theft and shoplifting in New York and Pennsylvania. Despite bail being requested for some of the suspects, six of them were let go without bail. The Bronx District Attorney’s Office has been criticized for releasing suspects with criminal backgrounds, including one individual who had been previously charged with attempted murder.
The Bronx district attorney requested varying amounts of bail for the suspects, but some were still released. Desousa-Villalta, who was involved in a shooting incident in Yonkers in 2023, had the charges dropped when the victim refused to cooperate. Alborno, who also had a gun during the incident, is still in custody. The case highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement in dealing with illegal migrants involved in criminal activities and the need for stronger actions to address these issues. The incident also raises concerns about the oversight of the legal system in releasing individuals with criminal backgrounds back into the community without appropriate safeguards.
