Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on January 27, 2021, Elioenai Aguinaga, 32, of Lakewood, pled guilty to Robbery in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(2), before the Honorable Rochelle Gizinski, J.S.C.
Officials said at the time of his sentencing on March 24, 2021, the State will be seeking a term of eight years New Jersey State Prison, subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act, N.J.S.A. 2C:43-7.2.
According to Ocean County officials, on March 26, 2020, Officers of the Lakewood Township Police Department were summoned to Taylor’s Pharmacy on Madison Avenue for a report of a robbery.
Responding Officers learned that a male suspect had entered the pharmacy, brandished a semi-automatic handgun at the store clerk, and demanded money from the cash register.
Police say Aguinaga took approximately $130 and fled the pharmacy. A subsequent investigation by the Lakewood Township Police Department Detective Bureau ultimately determined that Aguinaga was, in fact, the individual who committed the robbery at Taylor’s Pharmacy on March 26th.
On April 25, 2020, Aguinaga was arrested by Officers from the Lakewood Township Police Department, processed at Lakewood Township Police Headquarters, and transported to the Ocean County Jail - where he has been lodged since his apprehension police said.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligence of Assistant Prosecutor Kaitlyn Burke who handled the case on behalf of the State, as well as the hard work and determination exhibited by Officers of the Lakewood Township Police Department and Detective Bureau in their investigation of this matter which ultimately resulted in Aguinaga’s guilty plea.