By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Bergen County announced the arrests of Mr. Dustin Robalino,19, Bayonne; Mr. Gilberto Roman, 20, Carteret; Mr. Wilkins Furment, 20, Jersey City; Mr. Jimmy Ruiz (not pictured), 18, currently incarcerated at Hudson County Jail; and Mr. Giancarlo Rodriguez, 26, Paterson.
According to officials, the arrests are for charges of carjacking, armed robbery, conspiracy to commit carjacking, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, aggravated assault by pointing a firearm, and theft.
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella reported that the arrests result from a joint investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jason Love and the Edgewater Police Department under the direction of Chief Donald Martin.
Officials stated on Thursday, April 13, at approximately 3:35 a.m., the Edgewater Police received a report of an armed carjacking that occurred in the parking lot of the Target retail store on River Road.
Five male suspects, at least one of whom was armed with a handgun, approached the victim and forcibly removed him from his vehicle, officials said.
Authorities say the suspects assaulted the victim and stole his vehicle, chain necklace, and cell phone.
Officials say the Edgewater Police notified the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad, and a joint investigation was initiated.
During the investigation, officials said Dustin Robalino, Gilberto Roman, Wilkins Furment, Jimmy Ruiz, and Giancarlo Rodriguez were identified as suspects.
According to officials, on Wednesday, October 18, Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office detectives executed court-authorized arrest and search warrants.
As a result, authorities say that Dustin Robalino, Gilberto Roman, Wilkins Furment, and Giancarlo Rodriguez were arrested without incident.
Officials say Jimmy Ruiz was served with an arrest warrant and processed at the Hudson County Jail.
Dustin Robalino, Gilberto Roman, Wilkins Furment, Jimmy Ruiz, and Giancarlo Rodriguez were each charged with first-degree carjacking, first-degree armed robbery, second-degree conspiracy to commit carjacking, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, two counts of third-degree theft, and fourth-degree aggravated assault by pointing a firearm, officials stated.
Officials said Robalino, Roman, Furment, and Rodriguez were remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending their first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack.
Jimmy Ruiz remained lodged in the Hudson County Jail, officials say.
