A robbery took place early Sunday morning in the hallway of a Hell’s Kitchen apartment building, with a Manhattan assistant district attorney becoming the victim, according to the police. The incident occurred at around 2 a.m. Allegedly, the suspect, identified as 22-year-old Brandon Simosa, not only stole the woman’s purse, cell phone, and bank cards but also committed a lewd act during the assault.
The stolen cell phone was successfully traced by the police to a hotel located on West 45th Street, which ultimately led to the identification of the suspect. According to authorities, the suspect, Samosa, who is thought to have entered the United States in February 2023, was apprehended on Monday night. It is alleged that the suspect was caught using drugs in public at the time of the arrest.
Simosa allegedly had stolen items from the robbery when he was apprehended by the authorities. Law enforcement suspects that he is associated with Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang known for their involvement in similar criminal activities, particularly targeting individuals in popular locations like Times Square and Central Park.
The victim, who luckily escaped any injuries during the incident, is one of many recent targets in a string of attacks carried out by organized groups that specifically target residents of New York City. Simosa now faces a range of charges, including sexually motivated robbery and burglary.
Samoa has faced six arrests this year for similar charges, indicating a concerning pattern of criminal behavior, according to records.