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Mike Mather
Robbery Gang Targeting Undocumented Workers

Sep 14, 2006 04:08 PM PDT

Virginia Beach prosecutors say a gang of armed thugs has been preying on undocumented Hispanic workers who are unlikely to report the crimes.

Police spokeswoman Margie Long said the robberies numbered fewer than 12. She was unable to provide any other information or the names of anyone arrested. But advocates for Hispanic workers say the number of actual robberies is far higher, and the problem expends beyond Virginia Beach.

Commonwealth's Attorney Harvey Bryant said he also believes the number is greater. He said one of the four accused robbers bragged about his role in several other stick-ups. That suspect told police they couldn't charge him with those hold-ups because he picked victims who would not report the crimes.

Three of the accused are men and one is a juvenile. Charges against the juvenile and two of the men were put on hold this month when a victim failed to show up in court and another could not identify the robber.

Only one person, Jarvis Brown, remains in custody. A grand jury will consider his case next month.

Janice Sigala works with the Hispanic ministry at St. Gregory Catholic Church on Virginia Beach Blvd. She says crimes against Hispanic workers are common, but not commonly reported.

"If they are undocumented, they are afraid to go to court," she said.

Bryant said that is one of the consequences of being here illegally. But he stressed, his focus in cases like this is to provide justice to the victims and stop the violent street robbers. He said his office would take no action against the victims who come forward because of their status.

Sources in the criminal-justice system said the robbers would wait for Hispanic workers to complete their shifts. The robbers would follow the workers and then attack them. They preyed on Hispanic workers believing they would carry cash and they would be too fearful of immigration problems to report the crimes to police.

Pasquale Presutto and Adrian Castillo work at an Italian restaurant on Virginia Beach Blvd. where a Hispanic co-worker was followed and robbed. The pair said the kitchen staff then formed a protective posse to help each other get home at night. Castillo said his co-worker felt he'd let his family down, because he'd lost so much money to the robbers.

"It's what they told me," Castillo said. "They feel bad because they have family in Mexico and everything. And they (the robbers) took the money."

Segala said she encourages all crime victims to contact police, but she understands why most won't.

"Because they are afraid of being arrested," she said. "They want to earn a living. They don't want to be in jail. And that's one of the reasons many times they don't report the crimes."