Two Venezuelan Nationals Arrested for Seeking Gold in Manhattan Sewer
The pair, identified as 'mole people,' were apprehended after emerging from a manhole near a hotel hosting world leaders.
Two Venezuelan nationals, identified as Kevin Rodriguez, 26, and Samuel Reveron, 25, were arrested Thursday in connection with an incident involving a manhole on Manhattan's Upper East Side. The arrests followed a pre-dawn escapade on Wednesday where the two, along with a third individual, were seen emerging from a sewer entrance on Park Avenue near East 61st Street.
According to prosecutors, Reveron admitted to entering the sewers to search for valuables that had gone down drainpipes. He reportedly told a police officer, "We go into the sewers to look for valuables that go into the sewer drains." The incident occurred near the Loews Regency New York hotel, where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was staying during the United Nations General Assembly.
Rodriguez and Reveron were arraigned Friday on charges of trespass and conspiracy. Both were subsequently granted supervised release and are scheduled to return to court on November 25. A federal law enforcement source indicated that neither suspect appeared to pose a threat to dignitaries and that their actions were consistent with a larger pattern of individuals searching for precious metals and scrap metal in the city's underground systems, particularly after storms.
The NYPD stated that while the incident aligns with a known pattern of "mole people" exploring the sewer system for valuables, heightened security measures were in place due to the UN General Assembly and the hotel's proximity. The department is conducting additional security sweeps with federal partners out of an abundance of caution.
After emerging from the manhole, the individuals reportedly fled in two vehicles. Reveron faces an additional charge for driving without a license. He has a prior arrest for criminal mischief in Queens, while Rodriguez has no prior arrests. The incident is the latest in a series of sightings of individuals emerging from manholes across the city in recent months, including instances near Penn Station and Madison Square Garden.