Four Rhode Island men arrested for sweeping burglary ring of $4 million worth of items

BOSTON, Mass. (WLNE) — Four Rhode Island men were arrested in connection with a string of 43 break-ins across 25 Massachusetts towns between 2018 and 2024, according to Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan.

Jovan Lemon, 29, of Providence, Paul Lemon, 30, of Warwick, Steven Berdugo, 28, of Providence and Paul Miller, 46 of Woonsocket were indicted on April 18 for a total of 95 counts of unarmed burglary and breaking and entering a dwelling in the daytime with intent to commit a felony.

This organized burglary ring allegedly has ties to a violent Providence-based gang.

The majority of the residents of the homes were of Indian or South Asian heritage, and investigators believe they were targeted based on their ethnicity and the belief their homes would contain precious metals, jewelry and other high value items.

Jewelry, cash and safes were all allegedly stolen from the residences by the four men.

The aggregate reported value of all stolen items is in excess of $4 million.

The crimes occurred 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.

“The theft crew we arrested today stole countless items of great monetary, emotional, and cultural value from families in multiple states, and did so by violating the sanctity of their homes,” said Lieutenant Colonel Mark Cyr, commander of the Massachusetts State Police Division of Homeland Security.

“Such brazen criminal actions will not be tolerated in our communities. This investigation highlights the dedication of our law enforcement partners to work collaboratively to take down complex criminal networks.”

The arrests were the result of a nine month investigation by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the District Attorney’s Office, and the Massachusetts State Police Division of Homeland Security, including the MACrimeNet program operated by the MSP Fusion Center.