Seven Indicted in Alleged Jewelry Thefts in South Jersey

Seven people have been indicted on charges that they were part of an organized group that allegedly stole over $800,000 in jewelry in New Jersey and five other states, Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman announced Friday morning.

The investigation, dubbed “Operation Pandora,” began in May of last year after members of the ring allegedly stole $219,000 in silver beads by breaking into a vehicle at the Clara Barton service area on the New Jersey Turnpike in Salem County.

They had allegedly followed the car, which stopped at the service area after a jewelry trade show in Mt. Laurel.

In total, they were charged in eight thefts in New Jersey, including two additional thefts of jewelry with a total value of more than $150,000, as well as retail thefts of cameras and a $5,700 bicycle.

Alleged thefts include the theft of about $100,000 in loose diamonds from Tindall Diamonds in Robbinsville, Mercer County on Oct. 30, 2013; and the theft of more than $50,000 worth of Pandora trademark jewelry from a case at Gifted Jewelry in Robbinsville.

They were also connected to various other thefts in New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Virginia and Rhode Island, including jewelry thefts in all of those states involving more than $430,000 in jewelry.

The following seven defendants were indicted on second-degree charges of racketeering and conspiracy:

1. Nestor Raul Avila-Martinez, 25, of Middle Village, N.Y,

2. Kevin A. Rodriguez, 24, of Queens, N.Y.,

3. Angie T. Rodriguez, 28, of Flushing, N.Y.,

4. Juan Carlos Ramirez, 35, of Queens, N.Y.,

5. Omaira L. Reina-Martinez, 21, of Maspeth, N.Y.,

6. Bryan Osorio, 26, of Queens, N.Y., and

7. an Unidentified Woman known only as “Gisele.”

All of the defendants except Angie Rodriguez also are charged with second-degree shoplifting and one or more counts of third-degree theft.

Avila-Martinez, Kevin Rodriguez, Angie Rodriguez and Gisele are also charged with second-degree theft and third-degree burglary in relation to the Turnpike theft.

Avila-Martinez, Kevin Rodriguez, Osorio and Reina-Martinez currently are in custody. The other identified defendants are being sought on arrest warrants as fugitives.

Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000, while third-degree crimes carry a sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000. the New York City Police Department and other members of a multi-agency task force that investigates retail theft organizations provided extensive help to the New Jersey State Police in this investigation.

The attached images of Nestor Raul Avila-Martinez, Angie Rodriguez, Omaira Reina-Martinez, Kevin Rodriguez, Juan Carlos Ramirez and Bryan Osorio were provided by the Attorney General