Brewster brothers accused of having stolen guns are suspected illegal immigrants

By Terence Corcoran

February 18, 2011

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CARMEL — Two brothers from Brewster who were jailed after state police charged them with having guns stolen in a Pound Ridge burglary are suspected of being in the country illegally and are being held on federal immigration warrants, according to a spokesman from the Putnam County Sheriff's Office.

Hector R. Gregorio De Paz, 22, and Santos B. Gregorio De Paz, 18, of Brewster have been held at the Putnam County jail in lieu of $25,000 bond each after their arrest last week by Brewster state police on felony charge of criminally possessing stolen property.

Once the two arrived at the jail, a check with immigration officials determined the brothers were suspected of being in the country illegally from Guatemala, Capt. William McNamara, a sheriff's spokesman, said today. As a result, a federal immigration detainer warrant was placed on the men, ensuring they will be held even if they post bail.

State police notified gun shops in New York and Connecticut after a Pound Ridge resident reported on Jan. 30 that his home had been burglarized and three vintage Winchester rifles and a Colt black-powder revolver had been stolen.

The two were nabbed thanks to a Lake Carmel gun shop owner who called police after a man entered his store last week looking for a rare type of ammunition that's longer manufactured.

The store owner provided police a description of the man, the car he was in and two other men in the vehicle. Police found the car - and the brothers - at a Southeast residence. They admitted to having the firearms and other apparently stolen property, including jewelry and electronics, police said.

The case remains under investigation by Brewster and Somers state police and more charges are possible.

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