A group of seven gun-toting migrant squatters were arrested in a basement apartment in the Bronx after police responded to a report of a man with a gun. The suspects were confronted by officers, resulting in a chase and ultimately the apprehension of two men, Hector Desousa-Villalta and Javier Alborno, both from Venezuela. The basement apartment was searched, revealing a stash of drugs, three guns, extended magazines, ammunition, and a child inside. All seven suspects were charged with weapons possession and criminal possession of a controlled substance, with Desousa-Villalta and Alborno being held on bail due to their previous encounters with the law.
Desousa-Villalta had an open case dating back to August 2023, where he allegedly shot a fellow immigrant during an argument in Yonkers, although the case fell apart due to lack of cooperation from the victim. Alborno, on the other hand, was previously arrested and indicted for possession of a loaded firearm in the Bronx, but was released without bail despite the district attorney’s request for a $10,000 bail. Another suspect, Miguel Barrios, is wanted for retail theft and shoplifting in multiple states and was held on $25,000 bail. The remaining suspects were released on their own recognizance or supervised release. The building owner claimed he did not know any of the individuals living in the basement and plans to evict them.
The suspects are also being investigated for their involvement in robberies in Bergen County, New Jersey, although they have not yet been charged for those crimes. The narcotics and weapons stash found in the basement apartment, along with the presence of a child, raised concerns about the safety and security of the living situation in the building. The suspects will face legal consequences for their actions, with authorities continuing to monitor their activities and potential connections to other criminal activities.
The gun-toting migrant squatters were found in possession of two guns, including a “ghost gun”, extended magazines, ammunition, ketamine, and a mixture of ketamine with cocaine. The discovery of these illegal items in a shared space with a child raises red flags about the safety of the child and the environment they were living in. The suspects were apprehended after attempting to flee from police, with several of them having prior encounters with the law and open cases. The charges against them include weapons possession and criminal possession of a controlled substance, indicating the seriousness of their actions and the need for legal action.
The suspects involved in the incident, including Hector Desousa-Villalta, Javier Alborno, and Miguel Barrios, have a history of criminal activities ranging from possession of firearms to attempted murder and theft. Their connection to multiple states and involvement in other felonies suggest a pattern of criminal behavior that needs to be addressed by law enforcement. Their arrest and potential charges in connection to robberies in New Jersey highlight the importance of cooperation among different law enforcement agencies to ensure public safety and hold criminals accountable for their actions. The building owner’s lack of knowledge about the individuals living in the basement underscores the potential dangers of illegal squatters and the need for proper oversight of rental properties to prevent similar incidents in the future.
