A person who was a part of a conspiracy to steal almost $900,000 from companies working expert gaming machines within the Pittsburgh space and elsewhere can be deported to his native Dominican Republic after serving 35 months in custody.
Stalin Acosta Paulino, 45, who had been dwelling in Bronx, New York, was sentenced Monday in federal court docket in Pittsburgh to time served.
He pleaded responsible in January to conspiracy to move stolen cash and interstate transportation of stolen cash.
According to federal prosecutors, Paulino and several other others have been a part of a posh scheme by which they might journey from New York to different states and steal money from expert gaming machines.
An indictment handed up in 2024 stated that the conspiracy had been in operation from April 2022 till June 2023.
According to the doc, a number of companies within the Pittsburgh space have been focused, together with areas in Ross, Crafton and Pittsburgh. The group additionally struck companies elsewhere in Pennsylvania — together with Clearfield, Harrisburg, Johnstown and Norristown — and in Virginia.
Paulino was individually charged in 22 state circumstances in varied counties with comparable conduct, in line with his sentencing memorandum within the case. Those circumstances have since been withdrawn or dismissed based mostly on the result of the federal costs.
According to a submitting in a co-defendant’s case, the group stored monitor of greater than 1,500 companies with expert gaming machines to establish potential targets.
The contacts discovered within the cellular phone of co-defendant Rolando Jose Pena usually listed the title of the enterprise, the variety of machines it had, the forms of locks they used and whether or not the machines had cameras, the submitting stated.
Some contacts additionally included details about previous thefts, how a lot cash was taken, the strategy used to select the locks and whether or not clerks paid shut consideration, it continued.
There have been additionally footage of the machines and their locks.
In all, the group took $896,000, prosecutors stated.
According to Paulino’s sentencing memorandum, he got here to the United States in 2016 and acquired his everlasting resident card. He had no earlier arrests — both within the Dominican Republic or within the United States.
His spouse and three kids dwell right here, as effectively.
According to the submitting, Paulino labored in development in Harrisburg for a time period after his arrival, however was then requested by Pena to work for him amassing cash from playing machines.
“He initially believed that it was a legitimate job, but, after some time, he concluded that the money collected was being stolen,” wrote his protection lawyer, William J. McCabe. “Unfortunately, given the monetary circumstances of his household, he continued to take part within the conspiracy, though he all the time wished to cease.
“He regrets and is remorseful for his conduct, particularly since he has always been a law-abiding person.”
After the costs have been filed in opposition to Paulino, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement filed a detainer in opposition to him looking for his removing.
He has been in custody since September 2023.