(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced the indictments of Christopher Volpe, Michael Gruber, and Kristen Osmolia, who are each accused of participating in a spree of burglaries at five Suffolk County Dunkin’ Donuts franchises in less than a month.
“You cannot break into businesses and steal other people’s livelihoods in Suffolk County without being held accountable for your actions,” said District Attorney Tierney. “This burglary operation victimized local businesses and their operations only ended because the SCPD caught them shortly after the last alleged burglary. My office will hold these defendants responsible for their actions.”
Volpe, 44, of Patchogue, and Gruber, 54, of Medford, are each charged with five counts of Burglary in the Third Degree, a Class D felony. Osmolia, 51, of Holbrook, is charged with three counts of Burglary in the Third Degree, a Class D felony.
According to the investigation, between December 28, 2022, and January 20, 2023, five Dunkin’ Donuts locations were burglarized. Gruber allegedly drove the trio in his 2019 Chevrolet Equinox to and from each of the burglary locations.
Once there, Volpe allegedly pried open the back doors of the locations while the businesses were closed, and stole money from cash drawers, boxes, and safes. During the last three burglaries, Osmolia allegedly acted as a lookout, and also assisted with stealing money from inside one of the locations.
Volpe, Gruber, and Osmolia are accused of burglarizing the Dunkin’ Donuts locations listed below on the following dates:
• December 28, 2022 – 5050 Nesconset Highway, East Setauket.
• December 30, 2022 – 430 N. Country Road, Saint James.
• January 2, 2023 – 235 W. Main Street, Smithtown.
• January 3, 2023 – 411 Furrows Road, Holbrook.
• January 20, 2023 – 1105J Horseblock Road, Farmingville.
Investigators with the Suffolk County Police Department linked Gruber’s Chevrolet Equinox to each of the burglaries and apprehended the defendants in the moments following their last heist in Farmingville. In total, Volpe, Gruber, and Osmolia are alleged to have collectively stolen approximately $6,500 from all five locations. Of that total, approximately $4,500 was recovered when they were arrested.
On February 2, 2023, Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable John B. Collins arraigned all three defendants on the indictments.
Judge Collins ordered Volpe’s bail be raised by $25,000 cash, $250,000 bond, or $250,000 partially secured bond. Volpe was already being held on $250,000 cash, $500,000 bond or $2.5 million from his initial arraignment from the arrest. Volpe is represented by Scott Lockwood, Esq. He is next court date is March 7, 2023.
Gruber was ordered released with supervised release provisions and GPS monitoring. Gruber is represented by Steven Fondulis, Esq. His next court date is March 6, 2023.
Osmolia was released on her own recognizance. Osmolia is represented by Robert Dapelo, Esq. Her next court date is March 6, 2023.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Carlos J. Benitez II of the Major Crime Bureau.