United States v. I VAN COLLADO, Southern District of New York (Feb. 15, 2024) — Complaint

AUSAs Ashley C. Nicolas, Courtney Heavey, and Joseph Rosenberg 
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK 
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 
v. 
I
VAN COLLADO, 
Defendant. 
      SEALED COMPLAINT 
V
iolations of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1201(a)(1), 
(c), (d), and 2.  
      COUNTY OF OFFENSE: 
      NEW YORK and BRONX 
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, ss.: 
COLIN HIGGINS, being duly sworn, deposes and says that he is a Detective with the New 
York City Police Department (“NYPD”), and charges as follows: 
COUNT ONE 
(Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping) 
1.From at least on or about November 23, 2023 through at least on or about November
27, 2023, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, IVAN COLLADO , the defendant, 
and others known and unknown, knowingly and intentionally combined, conspired, confederated, 
and agreed together and with each other to kidnap Raymond Resto, a/k/a “Sugar Hill Tone” (the 
“Victim”), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1201(a)(1).  
2.It was a part and an object of the conspiracy that IVAN COLLADO, the defendant,
and others known and unknown, would and did knowingly and unlawfully seize, confine, inveigle, 
decoy, kidnap, abduct, and carry away, and hold for ransom and reward and otherwise the Victim, 
and the Victim would be and was willfully transported in interstate and foreign commerce, and 
COLLADO would and did travel in interstate and foreign commerce and use the mail and a means, 
facility, and instrumentality of interstate and foreign commerce, to wit, a cellphone, email account, 
and tracking device, in committing and in furtherance of committing the offense, in violation of 
Title  18,  United  States  Code,  Section  1201(a)(1),  resulting  in  death,  to  wit,  COLLADO  agreed  
with  others  to  kidnap  the  Victim from  a  parking  lot  in  the  Bronx,  New  York,  resulting  in  the 
Victim’s death. 
Overt Acts 
3.In  furtherance  of  the  conspiracy  and  to  effect  the  illegal  object  thereof,  the
following  overt  acts,  among  others,  were  committed  in  the  Southern  District  of  New  York  and  
elsewhere: 
a.On  or  about  November  25,  2023, a  cellphone  associated  with  IVAN
COLLADO,  the  defendant,  and  subscribed  to  by an  email  address  believed  to  be  used  by a 
coconspirator  (“CC-1”)  was identified  as  the  phone  number  for  the  registrant  of   a  car  tracking  
device (the “Tracking Device”) that was used to facilitate the Victim’s kidnapping. 
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4 MAG 668

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b. On  or  about  November  26,  2023,  COLLADO  and  CC-1  conducted 
surveillance of the Victim’s home in the Bronx, New York.  
 
c. On or about November 26, 2023, COLLADO oversaw an unidentified co-
conspirator (“CC-2”) install the Tracking Device on the Victim’s vehicle, which was parked in an 
enclosed retail parking lot in the Bronx, New York (the “Parking Lot”). 
 
d. On or about November 26, 2023, three individuals (“CC-3, CC-4, and CC-
5,” or the “Kidnappers”) confronted the Victim in the Parking Lot and kidnapped the Victim by 
stopping him and using force to try to drag him into their car.   
 
e. On  or  about  November  26,  2023, during  the  kidnapping, the  Kidnappers  
shot and killed the Victim in the Parking Lot. 
 
(Title 18, United States Code, Section 1201(c).) 
 
COUNT TWO 
(Kidnapping Resulting in Death) 
 
4. On  or  about  November  26,  2023,  in  the  Southern  District  of  New  York  and  
elsewhere, IVAN  COLLADO,  the  defendant,  knowingly  and  unlawfully  seized,  confined,  
inveigled, decoyed, kidnapped, abducted, and carried away and held for ransom and reward and 
otherwise  a  person  (the  “Victim”),  and  the  Victim  was  willfully  transported  in  interstate  and  
foreign commerce, and COLLADO traveled in interstate and foreign commerce and used the mail 
and a means, facility, and instrumentality of interstate and foreign commerce, to wit, a cellphone, 
email account, and tracking device, in committing and in furtherance of committing the offense, 
and attempted, aided and abetted the same, resulting in death, to wit, COLLADO aided and abetted 
the kidnapping of the Victim, from a parking lot in the Bronx, New York, resulting in the Victim’s 
death. 
 
(Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1201(a)(1) and (d), and 2.) 
 
The bases for my knowledge of the foregoing charges are, in part, as follows: 
 
5. I  am  a  Detective  with  the  NYPD  and  have  been  personally  involved  in  the  
investigation  of  this  matter.    This  affidavit  is  based  upon  my  personal  participation  in  the  
investigation,  my  examination  of  reports  and  records,  and  my  conversations  with  other  law  
enforcement agents and other individuals.  Because this affidavit is being submitted for the limited 
purpose of demonstrating probable cause, it does not include all the facts that I have learned during 
the course of my investigation.  Where the contents of documents and the actions, statements, and 
conversations of others are reported herein, they are reported in substance and in part, except where 
otherwise indicated. 
 
6. Based  on  my  involvement  in  the  investigation,  I  have  learned  that,  on  or  about  
November  26,  2023,  three  unidentified  individuals  (the  “Kidnappers”)  —  acting in  connection  
with  IVAN  COLLADO,  the  defendant  —  kidnapped Raymond  Resto,  a/k/a  “Sugar  Hill  Tone” 
(the “Victim”) from the Parking Lot in the Bronx, New York, causing the Victim’s death.  

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7. From  my  involvement  in  the  investigation,  including  my  review  of  records, 
including records regarding the location of the Tracking Device, my conversations with witnesses, 
and my review of surveillance video footage and license plate reader data, I have learned, among 
other things, the following: 
 
a. On or about November 25, 2023, an individual (the “Individual”) activated 
a  car  tracking  device  (the  “Tracking  Device”)  using a  particular  email  address  (the  “Email  
Address”)  and  a  phone  number  ending  in  1246,  which  was  subscribed  to  by an  email  address  
believed to be used by CC-1 (the “Activation Phone Number”).  When registering the Tracking 
Device, the Individual used the name “Raymond Resto,” the name of the Victim, and created the 
username “sugarhill,” which is the Victim’s alias.  The unit number for the Tracking Device was 
8882275019.   The  Individual  purchased  the  Tracking  Device  using  a  particular  credit  card  (the  
“Credit Card”).  Based on my conversations with the owner of the Credit Card, I have learned that 
the  owner  of  the  Credit  Card  did  not  authorize  anyone  to  use  the  Credit  Card  to  purchase  the  
Tracking Device.  That is, the Tracking Device was purchased with the use of a stolen identity. 
 
b. On  or  about  November  25,  2023,  at  approximately  11:36:07  PM,  the  
Tracking  Device  recorded  its  first  location:    140-74  Burden  Crescent,  Queens,  New  York (the 
“Burden Crescent Address”).  At the same time, two individuals matching the physical build and 
characteristics of IVAN COLLADO, the defendant, and CC-1, entered a dark colored crossover 
style SUV (the “SUV”) that was parked in front of the Burden Crescent Address and left the area.  
I am familiar with the physical characteristics of IVAN COLLADO, the defendant, from having 
reviewed  photographs  from  COLLADO’s  criminal  history  report.    I  am  also  familiar  with  the  
physical characteristics of CC-1 from having reviewed a photograph of CC-1 that was provided 
by an Eastern District of New York Probation Officer who has interacted with CC-1 on numerous 
occasions, and   having   reviewed   surveillance   camera   footage   during the   course   of   this   
investigation. 
 
c. Based  on  my  review  of  the  location  data  for  the  Tracking  Device  and  
surveillance  video  capturing  the  SUV  as  it  left  the  Burden  Crescent  Address,   I  learned  that,  
between on or about November 25, 2023, at approximately 11:36 PM and on or about November 
26, 2023, at approximately 12:03 AM, the Tracking Device traveled along the same path as the 
SUV.   For  this  reason,  I  believe  that  the  Tracking  Device  was  traveling  inside  the  SUV  with 
COLLADO and CC-1.   
 
d. On or  about  November  26,  2023,  at  approximately  12:03 AM,  the  SUV  
returned to the Burden Crescent Address.  Upon arrival, the two individuals, who appear to have 
the same physical build and characteristics as COLLADO and CC-1, exited the SUV and briefly 
entered a home near the Burden Crescent Address (the “Collado Home”).  At approximately 12:15 
AM, the same two individuals exited the Collado Home and entered another vehicle, a gray Nissan 
Rogue (the “Nissan”). 
 
e. On  or  about  November  26,  2023,  beginning  at  approximately  12:15  AM, 
the Tracking Device traveled along the same path as the Nissan, as corroborated by surveillance 
video and tracking data.    That is, the Tracking Device was now traveling inside the Nissan. 
 
f. On or about November 26, 2023, at approximately 1:03 AM, the Tracking 
Device and the Nissan arrived in the vicinity of an address in the Bronx, New York.  Based on my 

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visit to the Bronx address, during which I spoke to a resident, I believe the Bronx address to be the 
Victim’s  home  address  (the  “Victim’s  Home”).     The  Nissan  —  occupied  by  COLLADO  and      
CC-1 — and the Tracking Device remained in the vicinity of the Victim’s Home for approximately 
two hours.  Based on my training and experience, I believe that the Nissan remained in the vicinity 
of the Victim’s Home because its occupants were conducting surveillance of the Victim.  
 
g. At approximately 3:00 AM, the Victim and his wife (the “Wife”) exited the 
Victim’s Home and drove a Honda (the “Honda”) to an enclosed retail parking lot in the Bronx, 
New York (the “Parking Lot”).  The Nissan followed.  
 
h. At approximately 3:04:06 AM, the Nissan — occupied by COLLADO and 
CC-1 — and the Honda — occupied by the Victim and the Wife — arrived in the vicinity of the 
Parking Lot.  At the same time, the Tracking Device recorded its location in the vicinity of the 
Parking  Lot.   The  Nissan  and  the  Tracking  Device  then  traveled  briefly  into  Manhattan.     The 
Victim and the Wife left the Honda in the corner of the enclosed parking area.  The Victim and the 
Wife then left the Parking Lot using a car service, leaving the Honda behind unoccupied. 
 
i. Approximately   an   hour   after   the   Victim left   the   Parking   Lot,   at   
approximately  4:04:55 AM,  the  Nissan  returned  to  the  Parking  Lot,  followed  closely  by  a  dark 
colored BMW with a body shape consistent with an X5 or X6 model (the “BMW”).  The BMW 
pulled  up  next  to  the  unoccupied  Honda,  while  the  Nissan  positioned  itself  outside  the  Parking  
Lot, where COLLADO and CC-1 could oversee the actions of the driver of the BMW. 
 
j. Approximately  one  or  two  minutes  after  arriving  at  the  Parking  Lot,  an  
individual  (“CC-2”  )  exited  the  BMW  from  the  driver’s  side  and  bent  down  next  to  the  Honda.   
CC-2 then reentered the BMW and departed.  The Nissan followed the BMW.  
 
k. Thereafter,  the location  data  for  the  Tracking  Device indicated  that  the  
device did not exit the Parking Lot when the Nissan did, but instead, remained stationary.  For this 
reason,  I  believe  that  CC-2   placed  the  Tracking  Device  on  the  Honda.    In  addition,  as  further  
described  below,  the  Tracking Device  subsequently  recorded  data  consistent  with  the  Honda’s 
later movement.  
 
8. Based  on  my  review  of  records  provided  by  the  manufacturer  of  the  Tracking  
Device,  I  know  that  the  location  data  associated  with  it  would  have  been  transmitted  to  either: 
1) the Activation Phone Number, which, as further described below,  (i) COLLADO identified as 
his contact number during  a 911 call he made on or about November 23, 2023, (ii) to the number 
was also subscribed to an email address believed to be used by CC-1, and (iii) was identified as 
the phone number for the registrant of  the Tracking Device, or 2) the Email Address, which was 
identified  as  the  email  address  for  the  registrant  of  the  Tracking  Device.  Further,  based  on  the  
subscription  plan,  the  Tracking  Device  transmitted  its  location  approximately  once  per  minute.  
That is, the owner of the Tracking Device — COLLADO — would have received the location of 
the Honda once per minute once the Tracking Device was installed on the Honda.  
 
9. Based on my review of surveillance video, information from the Tracking Device, 
and law enforcement reports, I know, among other things, the following: 
 

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a. On or about November 26, 2023, at approximately 6:01 PM, the Victim and 
the  Wife  returned  to the  Parking  Lot  and  departed  in  the  Honda,   wherein  they  traveled  to  a 
shopping center outside New York City.  In or about the time that the Honda departed, the Tracking 
Device  similarly  reflected  that  the  device  left  the  Parking  Lot  and  headed  to  a  location outside 
New  York  City.    At  approximately  11:45 PM —  the  evening  after  the  Tracking  Device  was  
installed — the Victim and the Wife returned to the Parking Lot and parked the Honda in the same 
location in the corner of the Parking Lot where they had picked the car up earlier that same day.  
The Victim and the Wife exited the Honda and started walking towards a cab that was waiting for 
them (the “Cab”). 
 
b. At approximately 11:49 PM,  just four minutes after the Victim and the Wife 
arrived at the Parking Lot, the BMW entered the Parking Lot and pulled in front of the Victim and 
the  Wife.   Two  individuals  (“CC-3”  and  “CC-4”)  exited  the  BMW  and  attacked  the  Victim.           
CC-3   and CC-4 tried to force the Victim into the backseat of the BMW.  While CC-3   and CC-4 
attempted  to  force  the  Victim  into  the  BMW,  a  third  individual  (“CC-5,”  and  with  CC-3    and        
CC-4, the “Kidnappers”) exited the BMW from the driver’s seat.  The Kidnappers were all wearing 
dark clothing and gloves. 
 
c. After struggling (and failing) to force the Victim into the BMW, one of the 
Kidnappers began shooting the Victim at close range.  The Victim struggled to escape while the 
other Kidnappers also began to shoot at the Victim.  Ultimately, the Victim was struck at least four 
times, including at least once in the face.  The Victim was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. 
 
d. After the shooting, the Kidnappers entered the BMW, and fled the Parking 
Lot at approximately 11:53 PM. 
 
e. The Cab followed the BMW briefly.  The driver of the Cab reported to law 
enforcement, in sum and substance, that the BMW bore a temporary Georgia license plate.  
 
f. At approximately 12:30 AM, on or about November 27, 2023, COLLADO 
—  driving  the  Nissan  —  returned  to  the  Burden  Crescent  Address,  where  he  was  captured  on  
surveillance  video  exiting  the  Nissan  and  leaving the  area  on  foot.    Approximately  20  minutes  
later, at 12:50 AM, COLLADO was dropped back off in another vehicle at the Burden Crescent 
Address and entered the Collado Home. 
 
10. Based  on  my  review  of  NYPD  reports  and  my  discussions  with  other  NYPD  
officers,  I  have  learned  that  on  or  about  November  27,  2023,  NYPD  investigators  thoroughly  
searched the Honda pursuant to a consent to search, and recovered a location tracking device.  The 
unit number associated with the recovered tracking device was 8882275019, which is the same as 
the device number of the tracking device described supra ¶ 5(a).  That is, the recovered tracking 
device is the Tracking Device. 
 
11. Based  on  my  review  of  911  call  data,  as  well  as  NYPD  reports,  NYPD  officers’ 
body camera  video,  and surveillance  video  captured  from  the  vicinity  of  the  Burden  Crescent  
Address,   I  have  learned,  among  other  things,  the  following about a  report  made  by  IVAN  
COLLADO, the defendant, in advance of the kidnapping: 
 

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a. On  or  about  November  23,  2023,  at  approximately  11:50  PM,  IVAN 
COLLADO, the defendant, made two 911 calls to, in sum and substance, report the presence of a 
suspicious vehicle (the “911 Calls”) in the vicinity of the Burden Crescent Address.  COLLADO 
described the suspicious vehicle as a navy-blue BMW X5 or X6 with a temporary license plate.  
 
b. During the 911 Calls, COLLADO identified himself as “Ivan Collado” and 
gave the Activation Phone Number as his callback number.   
 
c. At approximately the time of the 911 Calls, an individual with the physical 
build  and  characteristics  of  COLLADO,  approached  a  car  with  a  body  shape  consistent  with  a  
BMW X5, from the direction of the Burden Crescent Address.  COLLADO then entered the car 
and moved it to a position outside the view of the surveillance camera.  On or about November 24, 
2023, at approximately 1:00 AM, NYPD officers responded to the Burden Crescent Address and 
contacted COLLADO,  using one of the numbers that COLLADO used during the 911 Calls,  to 
ascertain  additional  details  regarding  his  report.   COLLADO  informed  the  officers,  in  sum  and  
substance, that the suspicious BMW with temporary plates had moved since COLLADO called 
911 and that COLLADO was following the suspicious BMW, which was travelling in the vicinity 
of 139th Street and 86th Avenue.   
 
d. Shortly   thereafter,   the   officers   identified   a   vehicle   that   matched   
COLLADO’s description near the location where COLLADO had just reported seeing it, i.e., near 
the intersection of 84th Drive and 85th Road.  The officers reported that the vehicle had a particular 
temporary Georgia license plate, consistent with a description that would later be provided by the 
Cab driver on the night the Victim was murdered (the “Georgia BMW”).  See supra ¶ 6(f). 
 
12. Based on my training and experience and my involvement in this investigation, I 
believe that the 911 Calls were an effort by COLLADO to dissociate himself from the BMW prior 
to  the  kidnapping.  I  believe  this  because  (i)  the  BMW  was  parked  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  
COLLADO’s  residence  prior  to  the  911  Calls;  (ii)  at  or  about  the  time  of  the  911  Calls  an  
individual with the physical build and characteristics of COLLADO, whom I believe to have been 
COLLADO,  entered  the  BMW,  and  moved  it  out  of  the  view  of  the  surveillance  camera;  (iii)  
COLLADO  was  traveling  in  the  Nissan  with  the  Tracking  Device  immediately  prior  to  its  
installation by CC-2, who was traveling in what appears to have been the BMW; (iv) COLLADO 
oversaw the installation of the Tracking Device on the Victim’s Honda by CC-2, who was traveling 
in what appears to have been the BMW; and (v) the Kidnappers thereafter used what appears to 
have been the BMW to commit the kidnapping and murder.   I submit that by making a false report 
to 911 prior to the kidnapping, COLLADO was attempting to distance himself from the car that 
was to be used in furtherance of the kidnapping. 
  
13. Based  on  my  review  of  documents  in  the  NYPD  database  as  well  as  my  
conversations with individuals familiar with the Burden Crescent Address, my observations during 
surveillance, and my conversations with a Probation Officer for the Eastern District of New York, 
I have learned, among other things, that IVAN COLLADO,  the defendant, resides in the Collado 
Home with CC-1   (the “Collado Home”).  The Collado Home is in the immediate vicinity of the 
Burden Crescent Address. 
 

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14.Based  on  my  review  of  documents  from  the  Department  of  Motor  Vehicles  (the
“DMV”), I have learned, among other things, that the Nissan is registered to IVAN COLLADO, 
the defendant, at the Collado Home. 
15.Based  on  my  involvement  in  this  investigation,  I  have  learned  that,  on  or  about
December 18, 2023, NYPD officers seized the Georgia BMW in Queens, New York.   
16.Based on my review of records, I have learned, among other things, the following:
a.On or about November 27, 2023, the Tracking Device was deactivated.
b.On or about November 27, 2023, the Email Address was deactivated.
WHEREFORE,  I  respectfully  request  that  a  warrant  be  issued  for  the  arrest  of  IVAN 
COLLADO, the defendant, and that he be arrested, and imprisoned or bailed, as the case may be. 
______________________________ 
C
OLIN HIGGINS 
Detective, NYPD 
Sworn to me through the transmission of  
this Complaint by reliable electronic  
means (telephone), this 13th day of February 2024. 
___________________________________ 
THE HONORABLE VALERIE FIGUEREDO 
United States Magistrate Judge 
Southern District of New York 
Colin Higgins (by VF with permission)