Trio targeted South Asian homes in $4 million Massachusetts burglary ring

Three Rhode Island men pleaded guilty earlier this month to their roles in a sophisticated burglary ring that targeted South Asian-owned homes across 25 Massachusetts towns, netting over $4 million in stolen goods.

How they operated: The burglaries, which ran from July 2018 to March 2024, targeted towns such as Boxborough, Carlisle, Hudson, Lincoln and Weston. Investigators linked the men to a Providence-based criminal organization that employed advanced tactics, including Wi-Fi jammers to disable security systems and strategic surveillance to strike when residents were away. In some homes, the burglars managed to remove locked safes weighing as much as 400 pounds.

The men were arrested at their homes in April 2024 following a nine-month investigation. Stolen property included individual pieces worth up to $75,000, ranging from diamond jewelry and precious gems to gold items and substantial cash amounts.

Pleas and sentences: Brothers Jovan and Paul Lemon pleaded guilty to 32 counts of unarmed burglary and three counts of breaking and entering a dwelling house in the daytime with intent to commit a felony. Meanwhile, Berdugo pleaded guilty to seven counts of unarmed burglary. Judge Patrick Haggan sentenced Jovan to 10 to 13 years at the Massachusetts Department of Correction, while Paul and Berdugo each received 9 to 12 years at the Massachusetts House of Correction.

Why this matters: Authorities described the criminal enterprise as a bias-driven operation that traumatized South Asian families throughout Massachusetts.

“These three defendants pled guilty to their role in a sophisticated and calculated scheme that targeted victims based upon their ethnicity and caused fear and pain in our Indian and South Asian communities,” said Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan. “The defendants believed that households of these families were more likely to contain precious metals, jewelry and other valuable heirlooms.”

A fourth defendant, Paul Miller, is scheduled to face trial in October.