N.Y. Car Theft Ringleader Sentenced in Absentia

Westchester County, New York District Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced that Robert Lue (DOB 11/1/71) of Mount Vernon was sentenced to 45 years in state prison recently in absentia.

Lue reportedly failed to appear at his original sentencing date on Jan. 18, 2005. Judge Barbara Zambelli revoked Lue’s $250,000 bail that had been posted by his mother who used her home as collateral. A warrant for Lue’s arrest was issued and remained outstanding.

Lue pleaded guilty on Oct. 14, 2004, as charged, to 28 felony counts and 14 misdemeanors for his role as a ringleader of a car theft crew whose brazen crimes included breaking into the homes of unsuspecting Westchester residents and stealing cars from their garages.

In one case, they reportedly broke into a home and dismantled a car for parts in the garage while the homeowners slept. Lue was sentenced to 15 years for three separate charges of Burglary in the Second Degree to run consecutively to one another and concurrently to the lesser charges for which he was sentenced. In addition, he was ordered to pay restitution amounting to more than $242,000.

Lue, reportedly working in conjunction with Ronald Clare Greenland, was convicted of conspiring with three Bronx men, Newton Kidd, Sheldon McDonald and Courtney “Chico” Massias to break into attached garages at homes in Ossining, and two homes in Scarsdale, to steal expensive luxury vehicles.

Greenland, 41 (DOB 2/24/63), of Mamaroneck also pleaded guilty to multiple counts of Grand Larceny in the Third and Fourth Degree, Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree, Illegal Possession of Vehicle Identification Numbers and two Counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third. In January 2005, Greenland was sentenced to 2 to 6 years incarceration.

Kidd (DOB 6/10/75) and Massais’ (DOB 8/10/70) cases are still pending. Kidd is awaiting sentencing having pled guilty to Burglary in the Second Degree. McDonald (DOB 4/6/77) was convicted of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Third Degree and was sentenced to two to six years in state prison.