By: Tracie Carter
Police in Newark arrested five men and two juveniles in connection with business robbery incidents that occurred between November 25, 2022, and December 18, 2022.
Newark officials said on December 18th, Devin Negron, 18, of Newark, and James Preston, 18, of Irvington, were arrested along with a 16-year-old male and a 15-year-old male following an armed gas station robbery at McCarter Highway near Clark Street.
According to police, two male suspects robbed the station’s two attendants at gunpoint of approximately $530.00 in cash.
The suspects fled in a gray, 4-door 2021 Mazda 6 occupied by two additional males.
Police apprehended the four suspects following a brief pursuit and collision involving the vehicle at the 100 block of 3rd Avenue.
Officials say police recovered two firearms from inside the suspect vehicle, which had been reported stolen out of Pequannock Township on December 15, 2022.
Negron faces charges of robbery, conspiracy, unlawful possession of a weapon, possessing a firearm for an unlawful purpose, and receiving stolen property.
Police charged Preston with illegal possession of a weapon, possession of a prohibited weapon (defaced firearm), unlawful taking of a means of conveyance, and hindering apprehension or prosecution.
The 16-year-old is charged with receiving stolen property, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a prohibited weapon (defaced firearm), possession of CDS (heroin), and eluding.
Police say the 15-year-old faces charges of unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a prohibited weapon (defaced firearm), and unlawful taking of a means of conveyance.
According to police, on December 17th, Alexander Tasayco-Quevedo, 26, of Newark, was arrested in connection with an armed business robbery in the 700 block of Mount Prospect Avenue.
The suspect entered the business at approximately 2:05 p.m. and left after making a purchase. Police say he returned at approximately 2:15 p.m., brandishing a handgun and demanding that the two store employees give him everything they had.
The suspect fled the store with approximately $31,000.00 in cash and checks.
Tasayco-Quevedo was arrested after Newark Police in the area of Peabody Place near Chester Avenue observed him.
He faces charges of robbery, unlawful possession of a weapon, aggravated assault, and possession of CDS (cocaine).
Tasayco-Quevedo is also charged with robbery, conspiracy, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose in connection with an armed business robbery that occurred on December 2nd in the 300 block of Bloomfield Avenue.
According to police, the suspects entered the business, pointed a handgun at a customer's head, and stole $7,500.00 in cash before fleeing.
Joel Gonzalez, 29, of Newark, was also arrested in connection with this incident and is charged with robbery, conspiracy, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
Tasayco-Quevedo also faces a robbery charge in connection with an armed business robbery in the 100 block of Bloomfield Avenue.
On December 13th, the suspect brandished a handgun and demanded that workers open the store’s cash register. The suspect stole over $10,000.00 from the business.
Police said on December 13th, Luis A. Mejia-Paniagua, 31, of Newark, was arrested in connection with an armed business robbery in the 100 block of Bloomfield Avenue.
The suspect entered the store and made a purchase. He then returned to the store, pointed a handgun at the workers, and stole $21,000.00 in cash before fleeing on a blue and silver mountain bike.
He was arrested after police observed him in the area of Peabody Place near Chester Avenue. Mejia-Paniagua faces charges of robbery, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
Mejia-Paniagua also faces charges of robbery, conspiracy, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose after being identified as a suspect in an armed business robbery that occurred on December 9th at Bloomfield Avenue near Crittenden Street. At approximately 5:40 p.m., a man entered the business, took a water bottle, and said he wanted to pay for it. He followed a worker to the register, brandished a handgun, and demanded the store’s cash. The suspect fled, heading eastbound on Crittenden Street. Joel Gonzalez, 29, of Newark, is also charged in this incident with robbery, conspiracy, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
Mejia-Paniagua further faces charges of robbery, conspiracy, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and involuntary criminal restraint in connection with an armed business robbery that occurred on December 2, 2022, at the 100 block of Park Avenue.
The suspect zip-tied the hands of two employees during an armed robbery in which two male suspects stole $300.00 from the store’s cash register before fleeing, heading west on Park Avenue.