Suffolk Parolee Faces 16 Years To Life For Burglary: DA

RIVERSIDE, NY — A Babylon parolee who stole a car key fob with an Apple AirTag — allowing himself to be tracked — pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree burglary and now faces 16 years to life in prison.

Jose Osorio, who was on parole at the time of the crime and is described as "a persistent violent felony offender," broke into a home in Babylon through a basement window and stole numerous items back in May, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney's office said.

One of the items he stole, a key fob for a vehicle, was equipped with an Apple AirTag, which allowed the Suffolk police to track its location to the vicinity of the Osorio's home. After the investigation identified Osorio as a suspect, he was arrested at a local Pawn Shop, where he was trying to sell the burglary proceeds, prosecutors said, adding, that police also found more goods in a search of his home.

Tierney said Osorio admitted he "violated the sanctity of the victim’s home" and stole items so that he could sell them for profit.

“This disregard for other people’s homes and property is unconscionable," he said. "This case demonstrates our continuing commitment to arrest, prosecute and seek significant prison sentences for repeat offenders such as this defendant.”

Osorio has two prior violent felony convictions, including one In 1995 for second-degree burglary for which he was sentenced to four to eight years in prison, and another in 2003, for second-degree attempted burglary for which he was sentenced to 12 years to life in prison.

He was released to parole supervision in 2019.

Osorio, who was represented by the Legal Aid Society, is scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 30, 2023.