13 Members and Associates of the “Route Boys” Convicted of Drug Trafficking and Firearms Offenses

Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Eric Nunez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and use of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking activity. Nunez is the last of 13 defendants to plead guilty before United States District Judge Gary R. Brown in connection with a 22-count superseding indictment with charges involving drug distribution, use of firearms, pharmacy burglaries, and ATM thefts.

The defendants are members and associates of a burglary and drug trafficking organization known as the “Route Boys.”  The Route Boys committed burglaries of pharmacies and convenience stores in Nassau, Suffolk, Brooklyn, Queens, Westchester and Rockland Counties, as well as in New Jersey and Connecticut from 2020 through June 2022, when they were arrested.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the guilty pleas.

“With today’s guilty plea, and a dozen others previously, the criminal organization known as the “Route Boys” has been routed for their crime spree targeting local businesses throughout the Tri-State area, distributing drugs stolen from pharmacies and using firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking,” stated United States Attorney Peace.  “This Office is working tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to protect local businesses and hold accountable those who endanger our communities with dangerous drugs and guns.”

Mr. Peace thanked the New York City Police Department, Nassau County Police Department, Suffolk County Police Department, Westchester Safe Streets Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, Kings County District Attorney’s Office, Queens County District Attorney’s Office, Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance with the investigation. 

As alleged in the superseding indictment and other court filings, the Route Boys began committing burglaries in late 2020, breaking into convenience stores, check-cashing businesses, laundromats and restaurants, stealing primarily cash and tobacco products.  In addition, the organization often stole free-standing ATMs, forcing them open and stealing the cash from inside the machine, netting them tens of thousands of dollars.  They then began targeting small “mom-and-pop” pharmacies throughout the Tri-State area by smashing through windows and stealing controlled substances such as oxycodone and promethazine-codeine cough syrup. They sold these stolen pharmaceuticals, often by advertising on social media immediately after a night of burglaries. 

When sentenced, Carlos Acevedo, Ramon Collado, Naresh Deonarrain, the crew’s founder Jason Liriano, Charlie Maisonet, Cavier Nedrick, Eric Nunez, Jose Rosado, Alberto Santiago, and Jeffrey Vargas each face up to life imprisonment. Jonathan Santiago faces a sentence of up to 20 years’ imprisonment, Luis Cerda faces a sentence of up to 10 years’ imprisonment, and Devin Lopez-Dominguez faces a sentence of up to 5 years’ imprisonment.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division.  Assistant United States Attorneys Samantha Alessi and Andrew Wenzel are in charge of the prosecution.   

The Defendants:

CARLOS ACEVEDO
Age:  26
Brooklyn, New York

LUIS CERDA
Age:  33
Queens, New York

RAMON COLLADO
Age:  26
Brooklyn, New York

NARESH DEONARRAIN
Age:  27
Brooklyn, New York

JASON LIRIANO
Age:  25
Brooklyn, New York

DEVIN LOPEZ-DOMINGUEZ
Age:  22
Brooklyn, New York

CHARLIE MAISONET
Age:  21
Brooklyn, New York

CAVIER NEDRICK
Age:  26
Hauppauge, New York

ERIC NUNEZ
Age:  26
Brooklyn, New York

JOSE ROSADO
Age:  30
Queens, New York

ALBERTO SANTIAGO
Age:  27
Queens, New York

JONATHAN SANTIAGO
Age:  24
Franklin Square, New York

JEFFREY VARGAS
Age:  23
Brooklyn, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-451 (S-3) (GRB)