By Arun Kumar

Washington, July 22 (IANS) US prosecutors have revived an investigation into dozens of gold burglaries in nearby Northern Virginia last year targeted at Indian and South Asian families who kept gold and other valuables in their houses.

The investigation, which collapsed after all but three charges were thrown out of court, was revived by federal prosecutors in Alexandria after obtaining an indictment against three New Yorkers suspected of burglarising 37 homes in Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties, all part of Washington metro area, from February through November 2009.

Fairfax County District Court judge Ian O'Flaherty had convicted one suspect, Dagoberto Soto-Ramirez, 27, of attempting to burglarise a home in Fairfax and with possessing a burglarious tool in January.

Soto-Ramirez, 27, is in the Fairfax jail and will be sentenced in Fairfax County Circuit court Thursday.

On July 15, federal prosecutors issued a one-count indictment on all three suspects; Soto-Ramirez, his wife Melinda Soto, and Francisco Gray for conspiracy to transport in interstate commerce. The indictment was unsealed this week after Soto, 34, was arrested in New York Monday.

The indictment alleges that Gray and the Sotos targeted "residences occupied by persons with Asian or South Asian-appearing or sounding last names," that they would knock on doors to determine whether anyone was home, and then called the homes using prepaid cellphones.

Raman Kumar, a burglary victim who has led a campaign to unite other victims, said he was "thrilled and relieved" that the case has been reopened at the federal level.

After their arrest last year, the suspects "hired highly paid professional attorneys who helped them walk free," he told IANS. "We were shocked, frustrated and upset that the charges were dismissed and worried they were all going to go scot free."

"These are no ordinary burglars," he said. "They stole over a million dollars of gold, money and heirlooms from 40 plus families in Northern Virginia.

"From a national security point of view, it is worrisome that they have stolen US passports, social security cards, credit cards and laptops in several cases.

"We appreciate the federal effort for not giving up, and re-arresting Melinda Soto. We are hopeful that they can get to the bottom of this case and prosecute these criminals to the fullest extent of the law."