July 31, 2025
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced that a Queens, NY man was sentenced yesterday to 5 years in prison on burglary charges stemming from a September 2023 incident in which he illegally entered a home in Ossining and attempted to steal over $1000 worth of designer handbags.
Job Vera Zambrano, 27, who was caught as he tried to escape from inside the Ossining house, pleaded guilty in April to Burglary in the Second Degree. After failing to appear in court in both May and June, his $20,000 cash bail was forfeited and a hearing was scheduled for July 30 to determine whether to sentence him in absentia. Zambrano failed to appear in court again and after the hearing, was sentenced in absentia by State Supreme Court Justice James McCarty to an enhanced sentence of 5 years in state prison, along with 5 years post release supervision. A bench warrant has been issued for Zambrano’s arrest.
Zambrano was indicted for his role in this incident along with Juan Carlos Sierra Gonzalez, 49, and Jaime Bryan Chang-Fuentes, 27, both of Queens, NY. Gonzalez faces charges of two counts of Burglary in the First Degree as a Hate Crime, two counts of Burglary in the Second Degree as a Hate Crime, Burglary in the First Degree, Burglary in the Second Degree, Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree and Possession of Burglar’s Tools. Chang-Fuentes faces charges of Burglary in the First Degree, Burglary in the Second Degree, Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, and Possession of Burglar’s Tools.
It is alleged that at approximately 12:18 p.m. on Sept. 29, 2023, the defendants unlawfully entered the Ossining home of a local business owner, who is Asian, and stole designer handbags. It is further alleged that the defendants were in possession of burglar’s tools commonly used to forcibly enter premises. Gonzalez allegedly targeted the victims’ home based on stereotypes about their national origin.
Bench warrants have also been issued for Juan Carlos Sierra Gonzlez and Jaime Bryan Chang-Fuentes after their failures to appear in court.
DA Cacace said: “The arrests, investigation and subsequent prosecution of these three suspects were extremely well coordinated. I thank all our partners in law enforcement and our prosecutors for their efforts. Also, considering that all three defendants have absconded from court in this case highlights the importance of securing the appearance in court of those charged with serious crimes. We must all work together on finding fair, just and effective ways to improve on this incredibly important issue.”
The arrests and investigation were handled by the Ossining Police Department with the assistance of the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, the Briarcliff Manor Police Department, the Croton-on-Hudson Police Department, the Hastings-on-Hudson Police Department, the Sleepy Hollow Police Department, the Westchester County Department of Public Safety, the Westchester County Police’s Real Time Crime Center, the Greenburgh Drug and Alcohol Task Force, and New York State Police.
The case was prosecuted by Celia Curtis of the DA’s Office’s Violent Criminal Enterprise Bureau.
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The charges against the defendants are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
