White Plains, NY, August 21, 2010 -- Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced yesterday that the final two members of a Westchester County home invasion burglary and robbery ring have been sentenced. All six defendants pled guilty to the top counts in their indictments.
Garabet Pilivjian aka Gary (DOB 1/14/71) of 265 Centre Avenue, New Rochelle, New York pled guilty on November 12, 2009, to:
• one count of Burglary in the First Degree, a class “B Felony
• one count of Robbery in the Second Degree, a class “C” Felony,
and was sentenced on April 8, 2010 to 10 years in state prison and a Restitution Judgment Order of $29,500.
Rudolph Creekmur aka Rudy (DOB 2/19/88) of 1125 Findlay Avenue, Bronx, New York pled guilty on September 4, 2009 to:
• one count of Burglary in the First Degree, a class “B Felony,
• one count of Robbery in the Second Degree, a class “C” Felony,
and was sentenced on February 25, 2010 to 12 years in state prison and a Restitution Judgment Order of $ 29,500.
Thomas Sprauve (DOB 10/23/67) of 2344 Davidson Avenue, Bronx, New York pled guilty on June 5, 2009 to:
• one count of Burglary in the First Degree, a class “B Felony,
• one count of Burglary in the Second Degree, a class “C” Felony,
and was sentenced as a predicate felony offender on January 13, 2010 to 11 years in state prison and a Restitution Judgment Order $25,000.
Vincent Buchanan (DOB 11/21/80) of 2344 Davidson Avenue, Bronx, New York pled guilty on July 10, 2009 to:
• one count of Burglary in the First Degree, a class “B Felony,
• one count of Burglary in the Second Degree, a class “C” Felony,
and was sentenced as a predicate felony offender on December 23, 2009 to 8 years in state prison and a Restitution Judgment Order of $25,000.
John Mandracchia (DOB 5/14/65) of 17 Alpha Place, New Rochelle, New York pled guilty on November 24, 2009 to:
• one count of Burglary in the First Degree, a class “B Felony,
• one count of Robbery in the Second Degree, a class “C” Felony
and was sentenced on August 11, 2010 to 7 ½ years in state prison.
Tyrone McCartha (DOB 8/11/75) of 1954 First Avenue, New York, New York pled guilty on March 27, 2009 to:
• one count of Burglary in the Second Degree, a class “C” Felony,
and was sentenced as a predicate violent felony offender on August 20, 2010 to 7 years in state prison and a Restitution Judgment Order of $29,500.
On June 29, 2008, the first series of targeted robberies in Westchester County was committed, when John Mandracchia, Tyrone McCartha, Rudy Creekmur and Gary Pilivjian planned and executed an assault and robbery of a City Island restaurant owner.
Mandracchia followed the restaurant owner, who resides in New Rochelle, from the City Island location. He was known to carry home cash from the restaurant at the end of the business day.
Pilavdjian drove Creekmur and McCartha to the vicinity of the victim's house, located on Pengilly Drive in New Rochelle.
When the restaurant owner got home, McCartha and Creekmur approached the owner, assaulted and robbed him with the proceeds split among the four defendants.
Subsequent to this crime, all six defendants began to plan a home invasion in the town of Harrison. Several dry runs were done.
On August 31, 2008, Pilavdjian and the other defendants burglarized the home of a family friend in New Rochelle. The defendants broke into the house, but did not take anything when they found someone sleeping there.
On September 2, 2008, the defendants returned to the New Rochelle house and committed the burglary by removing various items.
On September 3, 2008, all of the defendants committed the Harrison home invasion.
Pilavdjian drove Creekmur, Sprauve and McCartha to the house. At the same time, Mandracchia and Buchanan drove around in a van as back up.
Creekmur, Sprauve and McCartha approached the victim's car as it arrives home. All three victims were assaulted, with all of the victims suffering bone fractures.
Watches and jewelry were stolen. The defendants then stole the victim's Mercedes and abandoned it on the ramp to the Hutchinson River Parkway by Mamaroneck Avenue.
The stolen property was pawned in Manhattan two days later.
