Middlesex County Acting Prosecutor Christopher L.C. Kuberiet said that a woman from South Carolina pleaded guilty yesterday to an armed robbery in connection with the robbery and fatal shooting that took place at the Speedway Gas Station in Edison on December 20, 2018.
Officials say Olya Quinnam, 22, of Beaufort, South Carolina pleaded guilty on September 26, 2019, to one count of first-degree armed robbery.
Under a plea agreement with Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Scott Lamountain and Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Vanessa Craveiro, Quinnam will be sentenced to a term of 15 years in a New Jersey state prison.
This term is subject to the No Early Release Act. As such, the defendant will have to serve 85 percent of her prison term before becoming eligible for parole.
She is scheduled to be sentenced in New Brunswick on November 18, 2019, before Superior Court Judge Michael A. Toto.
Quinnam and co-defendant Marcus A. Wright were charged following an investigation by Detectives Loren Long and Wilfredo Brown of the Edison Police Department and Detective David Abromaitis of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.
During the investigation, it was determined that on December 20, 2018, Quinnam and Wright were involved in the robbery and fatal shooting of a 38-year-old victim, John Bertram of the Fords section of Woodbridge Township.
The investigation revealed that while Quinnam waited outside, Wright entered the store and held up the clerk with a handgun.
The victim handed the cash register drawer containing currency to Wright; after which Wright fired his weapon, killing the victim.
Officials say Marcus A. Wright, 23, of Beaufort, South Carolina, who is charged with first-degree murder, first degree armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, is currently being held in South Carolina awaiting extradition to New Jersey.