Police: Illegal Immigrant, Gang Member Charged In Crimes Across Region

POSTED: 4:04 pm EDT August 30, 2007

CONCORD, N.C. -- Police have arrested a man they believe was involved in a series of robberies across the region.

Perfecto Rios, 17, is charged with five counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, one count of first-degree rape and one count of first-degree kidnapping.

Investigators say he and another man are responsible for two robberies at Hispanic-owned businesses in Concord late Monday. They say Rios raped a female store clerk during one of the armed robberies.

Police said Rios will also face charges for over a dozen crimes committed in Charlotte, Concord, Huntersville and Kannapolis.

Authorities said they identified Rios as an illegal immigrant and a member of a local gang. He was taken into custody by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Gang Task Force.

Police expect to make more arrests soon.

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