CATCH AND RELEASE: Warrants Issued After Pair Arrested in Westchester Crime Spree Fail to Appear at Arraignment

Written By: Robert Cox

WHITE PLAINS, NY — Omar Willis, 29, and Thomas Ricketts, 29, both of the Bronx, were indicted in absentia by a Westchester County Grand Jury for multiple home burglaries throughout Westchester in August and September 2019.

Latiek Frazer, 27, of the Bronx, was arraigned on dozens of charges today before Judge George E. Fufidio. Frazer’s bail was set at $10,000 cash/$100,000 bond/$100,000 partially secured bond.

Omar Willis, 29, and Thomas Ricketts, 29, both of the Bronx failed to appear. Their arraignments were adjourned and are now scheduled for Monday, Oct. 19 in Westchester County Court should they choose to attend.

There are outstanding warrants for Willis and Ricketts.

The Indictments came after a yearlong investigation conducted by the City of Rye Police. Rye Detectives recovered stolen property from various pawn shops in the Bronx, as well as during the execution of search warrants at the defendant’s apartments. A Porsche Cayenne stolen during one of the Burglaries was recovered by Rye Detectives in the Bronx.

The charges detailed in the 47-count indictment include 10 counts of Burglary in the Second Degree–Dwelling, a class C felony, two counts of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony, two counts of Attempted Burglary in the Second Degree–Dwelling, a class D felony, as well as multiple charges for Grand Larceny in the Third and Fourth Degrees, and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Third and Fourth degrees, all felonies, as well as multiple misdemeanor charges. The defendants were also charged with Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony.

Count 47 charges Omar Willis with Attempted Burglary in the Second Degree for an incident that occurred June 10, 2020 in the City of Rye, while he was at liberty on the earlier burglary charges.

The indictment alleges the three defendants were involved in conspiracy and a burglary spree that lasted from Aug. 8, through Sept. 24, 2019, and spanned eight different Westchester communities, including Pelham Manor, Bronxville, Larchmont, Rye City, Mount Vernon, Hartsdale, Yonkers and Rye Brook.

Typically, the defendants used large rocks to break windows to gain entry. They stole many thousands of dollars’ worth of items from the 10 homes they burglarized, including safes, cash, jewelry, televisions, cameras, luggage, Rolex and other designer watches, designer pocketbooks and shoes, collector baseball cards, credit cards, birth certificates, Social Security cards, and in one instance, a $100,000 Porsche. In many instances, items of extreme sentimental value that cannot be replaced were taken.

The spree ended in the afternoon of Sept. 24, 2019. In a Rye Brook residence, the three defendants were surprised by a homeowner and fled, but not before ransacking the home and stealing over $3,000 cash plus jewelry and other items. Westchester County Police arrested them shortly thereafter on the Hutchinson River Parkway. In the vehicle, they found proceeds of the Rye Brook burglary. In addition, police found items from the previous night’s burglary the three had committed in Yonkers.

The case began as an investigation after burglar alarm activated in an Eastchester home Aug. 13, 2019.  The suspects had used a large rock to gain entry.  Neighbors recorded video of a blue Jeep Grand Cherokee circling the neighborhood, parking suspiciously and ultimately fleeing the area around the time of the alarm.  A week later, a Bronxville home was burglarized and police also spotted a blue Jeep Grand Cherokee on surveillance and home video. The District Attorney’s Office and the Bronxville Police focused their investigation which led to Willis and Frazer, and later, Ricketts. All three were arrested Sept. 24, 2019. City of Rye, Greenburgh, Rye Brook, Larchmont, Mount Vernon, Pelham, Yonkers and Westchester County police departments assisted in the investigation.

Count 47 charges Omar Willis only for attempting to burglarize a home in Rye on June 10, 2020 while he was at liberty on the earlier charges.

Investigations Division Assistant District Attorney Celia Curtis and Second Deputy District Attorney Steven Vandervelden are prosecuting the case.

DETAILS PROVIDED BY RYE PD

August 1, 2019 to on or about September 24, 2019

Omar Willis, Latiek Frazer and Thomas Ricketts

Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree

August 23, 2019

City of Rye, Ormond Place

Omar Willis, Latiek Frazer and Thomas Ricketts

Burglary in the Second Degree

Grand Larceny in the Third Degree

August 26, 2019

City of Rye, Park Avenue

Omar Willis, Latiek Frazer and Thomas Ricketts

Burglary in the Second Degree

Grand Larceny in the Second Degree

June 10, 2020

City of Rye, Hewlett Ave

Omar Willis

Attempted Burglary in the Second Degree

Latiek Frazer

4 counts-Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree

1 count- Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fifth Degree

Omar Willis

3 counts-Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fifth Degree

3 thoughts on “CATCH AND RELEASE: Warrants Issued After Pair Arrested in Westchester Crime Spree Fail to Appear at Arraignment”

  1. Why was picture of fishing and catch and release used as the title.for this article? Maybe to attract white males to click and read. For political reasons, because this seems to be an article meant to scare suburban white.males. A call to arms,perhaps..SHAME on you.

  2. If I didn’t spend any time at Law School and I know only an imbecile would release professional criminals before they’re even ARRAIGNED, can I have a well connected, high paid prosecutor job with the County?

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