HILLSBOROUGH, N.J. - Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor and Hillsborough Police Department Chief of Police Darren Powell announced the arrests of Mr. Royce Hodges, 45 and Ms. Katrina D. Hodges, 42, both of Dewitt Lane, Hillsborough.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that on March 22, at approximately 4:50 A.M., members of the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force, along with members of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Unit, the Newark Police Department Emergency Services Unit and the Hillsborough Police Department coordinated the execution of three Superior Court authorized search warrants on a residence located on Dewitt Lane in Hillsborough, an apartment located within the Georgia King Village in Newark and a business located on 14th Avenue in Newark.
Prosecutor Robertson stated the search warrants were obtained as a result of a yearlong investigation which revealed that monies derived from criminal activity were possessed and transferred into multiple financial accounts by Royce Hodges, Katrina Hodges and Shaun Harrell, 46.
An analysis of Royce and Katrina Hodges’ bank account revealed tens of thousands of dollars of cash deposits with no employment and no New Jersey tax returns being filed or taxes paid from 2015 to present.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that Hodges has no known employment and at the time of the search warrant executions, was found to be in possession of $52,770.50 in U.S. Currency, a 2009 Red Pontiac 8 GT, a 2009 black Mercedes Benz and a 2013 Black Cadillac.
The criminal activity was determined to have occurred in the presence of a thirteen-year-old juvenile who was residing at the residence on Dewitt Lane with Royce and Katrina Hodges.
Prosecutor Robertson stated both Royce and Katrina Hodges were placed under arrest without incident. Defendants Royce and Katrina Hodges were lodged at the Somerset County Jail pending detention hearings. Defendant Harrell’s whereabouts are currently unknown and law enforcement are actively looking for him.
Defendant Royce Hodges was charged with three counts of 2nd-degree financial facilitation of criminal activity: money laundering, one count of 3rd-degree failure to file a tax return, one count 3rd-degree failure to pay tax return and one count of 2nd degree endangering the welfare of a child.
Defendant Katrina Hodges was charged with one count of 2nd-degree conspiracy to commit financial facilitation of criminal activity: money laundering and one count of 2nd degree endangering the welfare of a child. Defendant Harrell was charged with two counts of 3rd-degree tax evasion.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that this was a joint investigation conducted with the assistance of the Hillsborough Police Department, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Newark Police Department and the New Jersey Division of Taxation/Treasury Office of Criminal Investigations.