A New Jersey man accused of being the driver for a bag-theft ring targeting Logan International Airport and other flight centers in the Northeast will appear in East Boston BMC tomorrow for a pre-trial hearing following his arrest and arraignment last month, District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.
Luis Arellano-Corrales, 30, of Paterson was arraigned in East Boston BMC December 15 on charges of accessory after the fact and conspiracy. Judge John McDonald set $15,000 bail and ordered Arellano-Corrales to stay away from Logan Airport and report by telephone to probation once a week.
Arellano-Corrales’s arraignment followed a lengthy investigation by Massachusetts State Police initiated by the February theft on February 26, 2022 of a woman’s purse in Terminal E as the victim weighed her bags. The purse contained jewelry, cash and other items worth $13,415. Surveillance video showed three male suspects working together to steal the bag.
Troopers determined that the trio left the terminal in a 2020 Buick driven by Arellano-Corrales and further determined the Buick’s license plate and identified Arellano-Corrales as the vehicle owner. After issuing a Be on the Lookout (BOLO) alert, investigators received a response from a Port Authority of New York and New Jersey detective familiar with the group’s activities in New York and New Jersey airports. Troopers obtained an arrest warrant for Arellano-Corrales. He was arrested in New Jersey and waived rendition to be returned to Massachusetts. The other suspects are being sought.
The group is suspected in a January 2022 baggage theft at JFK International Airport in excess of $22,000.
“This group is adept at communicating with each other and using distraction techniques to target unsuspecting travelers and then make a quick escape. Their activities provide a good reminder for everyone to never leave valuables unattended or out of sight, even for a moment,” Hayden said.
All arrested and charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 20,000 cases a year. More than 160 attorneys in the office practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Boston Juvenile Courts. The office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs to serve anyone who comes in contact with the criminal justice system. This office is committed to educating the public about the services we provide, our commitment to crime prevention, and our dedication to keeping the residents of Suffolk County safe.