Peruvian Man Sentenced to Three Years for Connecticut Distraction Thefts

In New Haven federal court, a Peruvian national named Angel Giancarlo Bellido Cosio—who also went by “Jesus Requejo”—just got sentenced to three years in prison. He played a key role in a distraction theft scheme that targeted elderly women at retailers all over Connecticut and even beyond.

The investigation connects Connecticut victims to incidents in towns like Orange, New Haven, Hartford, Stamford, Bridgeport, Waterbury, Norwalk, and Danbury. Arrests and guilty pleas have also popped up in Rhode Island, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

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Distraction theft scheme tied to Connecticut victims

Federal prosecutors described a coordinated operation where decoys would distract elderly shoppers. Meanwhile, other thieves swiped wallets and credit cards.

The stolen cards got used to buy electronics and other goods. The group often crossed state lines, committing dozens of thefts along the way.

Key details and timeline

The scheme involved renting vehicles 14 times over 144 days. The conspirators drove more than 65,000 miles as they moved around the region.

Authorities said purchases on the stolen cards totaled over $53,000. The case specifically linked Connecticut victims to incidents outside retailers like Trader Joe’s and TJ Maxx.

Connecticut victims showed up in towns including Orange, New Haven, Hartford, Stamford, Bridgeport, Waterbury, Norwalk, and Danbury.
Cosio and a co-conspirator got arrested on March 13, 2024, after a wallet theft in Orange, CT led to a card being used for a MacBook and an iPad Pro.
Bellido Cosio pleaded guilty on Jan. 30 to conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. He’s been detained since his arrest.

Bellido Cosio, who lived in Paterson, New Jersey at the time, will face immigration proceedings after finishing his prison sentence. A second co-conspirator, Angel Eugenio Bances Chaponan, got two years in prison on Sept. 17, 2024.

A third co-conspirator, Erick Christian Luna de la Cruz, pleaded guilty and is still waiting to be sentenced.

What this means for Connecticut communities

This operation stretched across multiple states, but Connecticut residents felt the impact right away—in big cities and small towns. Local police and federal agents keep stressing the need for vigilance in busy shopping districts and parking lots near major retailers.

Besides Orange and New Haven, communities in Hartford, Stamford, Bridgeport, Waterbury, Norwalk, and Danbury are still digging through affected cases and working with state and federal partners.
Officials remind people that distraction thefts often target seniors who get distracted near entrances and exits of stores like Trader Joe’s and TJ Maxx.

Connecticut authorities say this case really highlights the need for ongoing fraud prevention outreach. Urban and suburban areas—where crime trends collide with everyday shopping—seem to be especially at risk.

Local outlets in the state, including in Hartford and the coastal areas around New London, have already ramped up patrols near retirement communities and shopping centers.

How residents can reduce risk

Experts suggest some practical steps to help deter distraction thieves and keep your finances a little safer:

Stay alert if strangers try to interrupt you while you’re shopping, especially near store entrances or parking lots.
Keep wallets and cards in secure, front pockets or zipped bags, and don’t leave valuables in your car if you can help it.
If you can, use RFID-blocking wallets and keep an eye on your bank and credit accounts for any weird charges.
Let your family and neighbors know about these scams, especially in Bridgeport, Waterbury, Norwalk, and other Connecticut spots where seniors shop often.
If you spot suspicious behavior, tell store staff and call local police or 911 if something feels off or familiar.

Ongoing court actions and next steps

Federal prosecutors aren’t letting up after Bellido Cosio’s sentence. They pointed out that their work against the wider network is still going strong.

They’ve already sentenced Bances Chaponan. Meanwhile, Luna de la Cruz still faces pending actions, which shows a pretty coordinated push from the feds to break up these distraction theft rings targeting the elderly.

For people living from Milford to New London, this whole ordeal really hits home. Maybe it’s a bit of a wake-up call—working with the authorities and staying alert can actually help protect Connecticut families from these scams.

Here is the source article for this story: Peruvian man gets three years in prison for ‘distraction thefts’ in CT, other states

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