(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Henry Cruz, 25, Luis Acosta, 24, Jeorge Santana Sanchez, 34, and Madinson Silverio Ventura, 27, of the Bronx, were indicted for Assault on a Police Officer for allegedly causing serious physical injury to a Suffolk County Police Officer after multiple catalytic converter thefts.
“The defendants, who are not from Suffolk County, are accused of targeting our community through a string of catalytic converter thefts and then escalating the situation by fleeing from law enforcement, resulting in a serious injury to a police officer,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Thank you to the SCPD patrol officers who interrupted this crew plaguing Lindenhurst and the detectives who tracked down the two who initially got away. This should send the message that if you come to Suffolk County to commit crimes, we will track you down and bring you back to face charges here.”
According to the investigation, on March 7, 2026, the four defendants allegedly drove a 2021 Maserati Levante around Lindenhurst to steal catalytic converters from parked vehicles. The defendants would stop the Maserati in the roadway near a targeted vehicle, usually a Toyota Prius, and turn its headlights off. Multiple defendants would then allegedly exit the Maserati and perform specific roles in furtherance of the thefts – one would stand watch, another would use a pump jack to raise the vehicle off the ground, and another would use a power saw to cut out the catalytic converter. After the process was complete, the defendants would get back into the Maserati and allegedly go looking for another target vehicle.
At approximately 4:37 a.m. that morning, a marked Suffolk County Police Department patrol unit attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the suspect vehicle. The Maserati allegedly refused to pull over, and the defendants then led officers on a pursuit. Eventually, the pursuit led to the westbound Southern State Parkway in Suffolk County where the defendants allegedly operated the Maserati at speeds estimated to be over 90 mph.
A second marked patrol unit, waiting ahead of the pursuit, deployed stop sticks as the defendants approached, which flattened the tires of the Maserati. All four defendants then allegedly exited the vehicle and fled on foot. During the foot pursuit, a Suffolk County Police Officer fell and suffered an ankle fracture, which required emergency surgery at Stony Brook University Hospital. Defendants Acosta and Cruz were arrested that morning during the foot pursuit.
Defendants Santana Sanchez and Silverio Ventura were subsequently identified following an investigation and arrested by detectives at a hotel in the Bronx on March 19, 2026. Silverio Ventura was also arrested on an outstanding warrant for a previous catalytic converter theft from Lindenhurst in 2023.
On April 1, 2026, Cruz, Acosta, Santana Sanchez, and Silverio Ventura were arraigned on the indictment before Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei for the following charges:
· One count of Assault on a Police Officer, a Class C violent felony;
· One count of Auto Stripping in the First Degree, a Class D felony;
· Four counts of Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree, Class D felonies; and
· Four counts of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Third Degree, Class D felonies.
Justice Mazzei ordered Cruz held on $500,000 cash, $1,000,000 bond, or $5,000,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. He is being represented by Chase Brown, Esq.
Acosta was ordered held on $250,000 cash, $500,000 bond, or $5,000,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. He is being represented by the Legal Aid Society.
Santana Sanchez was ordered held on $250,000 cash, $500,000 bond, or $5,000,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. He is being represented by Daniel Ollen, Esq.
Silverio Ventura was ordered held on $250,000 cash, $500,000 bond, or $5,000,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. He is being represented by Sean Dixon, Esq.
The defendants are due back in court on May 6, 2026. They each face 15 years in prison if convicted on the top count.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Sean Lorthioir, Carlos Benitez, and Kieran Rogers of the Major Crime Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detectives Christopher Viar and Michael Conrad of the Suffolk County Police Department Property and Auto Crimes Squad.