York home targeted for marijuana, money: Four plead guilty to heist that ended in gunfire

YORK, Maine — A New Hampshire man pleaded guilty last week in federal court to conspiracy and robbery charges in connection with a violent York home invasion where he and three others targeted the residence for marijuana and cash.

Derek Daprato, 34, of Hooksett, pleaded guilty in federal court Dec. 28 as part of a negotiated plea deal just days before he was scheduled to go to trial. Three others involved in the incident that led to the homeowner getting shot on Aug. 2, 2019, previously pleaded guilty and are also awaiting sentencing.

Police said Daprato, Jason Candelario, Luis Carpio and Andrew Soboleski plotted to rob a home on Rowe Falls Lane. The homeowner, according to court documents, owned and operated a marijuana manufacturing and distribution business.

Prosecutors said the group traveled from Hooksett, New Hampshire, to the York residence in two cars, one owned by Carpio and another by Daprato, with a backpack containing duct tape, zip ties and empty garbage bags.

Candelario and Carpio, according to prosecutors, got out of the car and hid in the woods near the home's garage. When the homeowner backed into the garage, prosecutors said Candelario and Carpio rushed into the garage armed with handguns and wearing masks.

Wells, Maine:Man charged with attacking officers with machete in New York City

"A violent physical altercation ensued between (the homeowner) and one of the assailants and both ended up on the ground," stated Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Conley and Donald E. Clark in court documents outlining the case. "The other assailant then came around the truck and a firearm was discharged."

Prosecutors said Candelario and Carpio fled the scene, and the homeowner's girlfriend, who was in the car at the time of the incident, called 911. The homeowner was rushed to the hospital where he underwent surgery to remove a .45 caliber bullet from his lower abdomen.

How did police track down suspects?

Police said they identified one of the suspects after an officer captured the license plate of a passing car near the scene seven minutes after the 911 call reporting the shooting. The car was later connected to Carpio. They also became aware of a similar armed robbery, which was captured on video, allegedly perpetrated by Candelario on July 20, 2019, in Canton, Massachusetts.

Police used DNA, Facebook records, cell phone records and cell tower data to show that the four men were connected and in the area at the time of the robbery.

One Facebook message sent from Carpio to another user on the night of the robbery stated, "Bro I am on my way to da house w/ Candy and my boy." "Candy," according to prosecutors, was in reference to Candelario.

Following the robbery, police said there were numerous calls and texts between Soboleski, Candelario and Daprato.

More:Suspect found dead in York, Maine home following standoff with police

Video and audio surveillance captured by the homeowner showed footage of two masked individuals entering the garage at 12:26 a.m. The surveillance captured sounds of “a struggle … followed by a single gunshot,” and then the individuals, are seen fleeing the driveway at approximately 12:36 a.m. One of the individuals was carrying what appeared to be a handgun.

Police also recovered at the scene the bullet shell and backpack containing duct tape, zip ties and white plastic bags.

Four face lengthy prison time

Daprato faces a period of imprisonment of up to 20 years on the conspiracy charge and up to 20 years on the robbery charge.

Candelario, who had four prior felony convictions and was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law, pleaded guilty Nov. 2. He faces a period of imprisonment of up to 20 years on the conspiracy charge, up to 20 years on the robbery charge and up to 10 years on the firearm charge.

Both will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

Soboleski, who faced up to 20 years in prison, has not yet been sentenced. His plea agreement states that prosecutors agreed the prison term will not exceed 9 years. According to court documents, Soboleski told police that he was just the driver and that Carpio or Candelario contacted him on Aug. 2, 2019, for a ride to Maine for an unstated purpose.

Carpio is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 18.

Not the first the time home was targeted

Three months prior to the Aug. 2, 2019, robbery, police were called to Rowe Falls Lane for another home invasion and robbery that led to the homeowner being shot in the leg.

Authorities said the victim was targeted because he was known to be involved in the cultivation and/or distribution of marijuana. The robbers aimed to steal marijuana and proceeds from marijuana sales.

All three suspects were arrested and have since pleaded guilty and are serving prison sentences. Nathaniel Rivera was sentenced to eight years and one month in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Eric Mercado, 33, of Lowell, and Steven Hardy, 33, of Maynard, were both sentenced to over 15 years in federal prison.

Police said Rivera traveled to a York home with two women on May 3, 2019, where they met the homeowner and drank alcohol and went into the hot tub. While the four were in the hot tub, Mercado and Hardy entered the home and ordered the victim to go into a bathroom, but he refused and fled, which is when the robbers shot at him, according to court records.

Although police did not confirm the two incidents took place at the same residence or involved the same victim, neighbors said both took place at the same address and involved the victim.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: York, Maine home targeted for marijuana and cash in violent heist