A third New York Police Department officer, Kelvin Jones, 28, of Yonkers, New York, was arrested today for his involvement in the robbery of a perfume distributor of $1 million in perfume, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
The arrest was part of a continuing investigation by federal and state authorities into the heist of hundreds of boxes of high-end perfume from a warehouse used by a company known as In Style USA, Inc in Carlstadt, New Jersey.
On March 5th, the two other NYPD officers, Richard LeBlanca and Brian Checo, both of New York City, were arrested and charged with the same robbery in a criminal complaint, along with Gabriel Vargas of Brooklyn, Luis R. Morales of
Brooklyn, Anselmo Jimenes, a/k/a "Ansemo Jimenes", of Brooklyn, Alan A. Bannout of Brooklyn, and Orlando Garcia of New York.
The initial criminal complaint did not name Jones by name, but merely referred to him as one of the eight conspirators whose true name was unknown, but who used the alias "Mike Smith".
According to the complaint filed against Jones in federal court today, on February 9, 2010, Jones went to a truck rental company in Jersey City with some of the other men who participated in the heist, and rented a truck he had reserved in the name "Mike Smith". It is alleged that Jones attempted to pay for the truck in cash, but when that failed, Jones directed LeBlanca to pay for the rental truck, which was later used in the robbery, with LeBlanca's ATM debit card.
The complaint also alleges that Jones then participated in the ensuing perfume robbery of the Carlstadt warehouse where 11 company employees were restrained and held hostage. During the robbery, the complaint alleges that Jones, while reviewing sheets of paper that contained names on them, began yelling the names of several of the victims being held hostage. The complaint also indicates that law enforcement agents later recovered two sheets of paper that were thrown into a trash receptacle which contained personal identification information of an individual related to one of the victims of the robbery. Subsequent examination of these documents revealed that they were obtained from a database in the 46th NYPD precinct - the same precinct where Jones is employed.
"Though the arrest of police officers is discouraging news, the public should know that we will remain steadfast in our pursuit of justice, regardless of where or to whom that pursuit may lead," said Michael Ward, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Newark Office. "Members of law enforcement are not above the law and if they forget that, they will be suject to the same penalties as ordinary citizens."
Jones will appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Madeline Cox Arleo today to face this charge.
Jimenes, who is currently incarcerated in Bergen County on local charges, is also expected to appear before Magistrate Cox Arleo today. Bannout has not yet been arrested.
The charge set forth in the Complaint carries a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The FBI has requested that anyone having further information regarding this robbery, please call the FBI at (973) 684-6614.
Fishman again credited Special Agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Kevin B. Cruise, for the investigation. Fishman also thanked the Carlstadt Police Department and the NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau for their assistance in the investigation.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Gramiccioni and Eric T. Kanefsky of the Office's Special Prosecutions Division and Criminal Division, respectively.
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