No bail for four men linked to house break-ins that targeted Indians, South Asians
Norman MillerWOBURN — All four of the Rhode Island men linked to a six-year burglary spree that targeted the homes of Indian Americans and South Asian Americans have been ordered held without bail.
A Middlesex Superior Court judge on Monday ordered the four suspects — brothers Jovan Lemon, 29, of Providence, and Paul Lemon of 30, of Warwick, along with their father Paul Miller, 46, of Woonsocket, and Steven Berdugo, 28, of Providence — to be held pending a hearing to determine whether they're a danger to the public.
The date of the hearing has not been set, due to lawyers' scheduling.
Authorities arrested the four men last Friday in Rhode Island after a nine-month investigation that included dozens of law enforcement agencies, including federal and state agencies in Rhode Island and New Hampshire.
Authorities say the four men broke into at least 43 homes in 25 communities between July 2018 and March of this year. The group is alleged to have targeted homes in Billerica, Boxborough, Carlisle, Easton, Hopkinton, Lincoln, Weston, Sudbury, Andover, Bellingham, Boxford, Franklin, Hudson, Littleton, Medway, Middleton, Millis, North Attleboro, Norwell, Pembroke, Seekonk, Sharon, Southborough, Wenham and Westwood.
Earlier:Authorities link four men to series of home break-ins targeting Indians, South Asians
Authorities say the group targeted homes owned by those of Indian or South Asian descent, believing those homes would have large amounts of jewelry and cash. In all, they said the group stole jewelry valued at more than $4 million.
The four men waived their right to fight rendition during their first appearance last Friday in a Rhode Island court, and were brought to Massachusetts to be arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court.
The names of the four men's lawyers were not immediately available.
Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on X @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.