A 25-year-old man was apprehended for the alleged robbery and indecent exposure to a Manhattan assistant district attorney, according to reports. The incident, which took place in the lobby of the victim's Midtown building on West 44th Street around 2 a.m. on a Sunday, involved the suspect, identified as Brandon Simosa, forcibly taking the 38-year-old woman's purse, cellphone, and bank card. After the theft, ABC7 New York reports he exposed himself.
Simosa, who police believe is connected to the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, has been arrested near a hotel on West 45th Street and Eighth Avenue last Tuesday, with the help of the stolen phone's tracking data, leading authorities to suspect him as a migrant. Holding both drugs and about $525 worth of stolen Adidas clothing, Simosa was charged with sexually motivated robbery and criminal possession, among other offenses. FOX 5 New York stated that his arrest marks the seventh in just five months for similar crimes.
With ties to the infamous Tren de Aragua gang, Simosa is allegedly linked to a worrying trend of thefts and robberies in New York City. This criminal faction is noted for targeting women, particularly those carrying purses or cellphones. While the name of the assistant district attorney victim has not been disclosed, she faces the aftermath of an encounter with what law enforcement suggests is a pattern of violence and predation that zeroes in on perceived vulnerabilities.
Now facing multiple charges including grand larceny and drug possession, Simosa's case will not be handled by the victim's Manhattan office due to a clear conflict of interest. Instead, it has been transferred to the Bronx District Attorney's Office for prosecution. Notably, the Tren de Aragua gang has been reportedly associated with a ting of crime in places such as Times Square and Central Park, adding a layer of concern to regional security efforts. Such events cast a shadow over notions of safety and sanctuary in what are considered some of New York's most iconic spaces.
