The gang attacked 5 Indian homes in NJ in 2014.
By Raif Karerat
WASHINGTON, DC: After six suspects were arrested and charged with perpetrating a series of home invasions, assaults, and robberies that targeted Indian American families in Middlesex County, New Jersey, indictments were handed up Wednesday further charging the criminal group with bias intimidation.
Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew Carey said the bias charges had not been previously filed against the six-man racket, who stormed five Indian American homes between October 20 and November 29, 2014. The assailants burst through doors, waved and pointed guns, bound family members with duct tape, and rained kicks and punches upon them before escaping with jewelry, cash, and electronics, authorities reported.
“After the initial arrests were made in the case, our continuing investigation brought to light additional facts that enabled us to present evidence of bias crimes to the grand jury,” Carey told reporters from his office.
The defendants identified in the five indictments — one for each of the home invasions — are Chaka Castro, also known as Catina Dennings, 39, Juan Olaya, 34, Octavius Scott, 22, Johnisha Williams, 19, and Justin Johnson, 25, all of Houston, Texas, and Jakeyra Augustus, 21, of North Texas City, Texas.
A total of 103 counts are included in the five indictments and in addition to conspiracy, charge the defendants with counts of bias intimidation, burglary, robbery, aggravated assault, kidnapping, terroristic threats, criminal mischief, theft by unlawful taking, and hindering their own apprehension, according to myCentralJersey.com.
Authorities reported the home invasion robbery ring was not limited to the New Jersey area. The clique had operations spanning Georgia, Michigan, Texas, and New York.
They were arrested in Texas after authorities from several states conglomerated to investigate the ring, with bail having been set for each defendant at $1.25 million.
Edison Councilwoman Sapana Shah, who publicly called for the prosecutor to include bias crimes among the spate of charges, indicated she was content with the decision to pursue them.
“Now, I hope the legal system and its jurors allow these victims to have their day in court and there is justice,” Shah said in a statement to NJ.com.