By: Richard L. Smith
A Bergen County man has been convicted on multiple charges in connection with a string of armed robberies that terrorized several Hudson County businesses in 2022.
According to a statement released by Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez, Joel Krecz, 37, of Hackensack, was found guilty on Tuesday, October 29, of a range of charges, including four counts of armed robbery, possession of prohibited weapons, and aggravated assault.
The conviction follows a two-week trial presided over by Judge John A. Young.
Krecz was convicted on four counts of armed robbery, five counts of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, five counts of unlawful possession of a weapon, five counts of theft, one count of aggravated assault, and two counts of possession of prohibited weapons, which included large-capacity ammunition and hollow-point bullets.
He was acquitted of one count of aggravated assault.
The charges stem from four robberies that took place between the night of April 29 and the early morning hours of April 30, 2022. In each incident.
Krecz reportedly brandished a handgun and demanded money from clerks at various businesses in Hudson County.
The targeted locations included:
- A liquor store on Summit Avenue in Union City
- A gas station on Route 3 in Secaucus
- A business on Paterson Plank Road in Union City
- A liquor store on Willow Avenue in Hoboken
A joint investigation conducted by local law enforcement, including the Jersey City, Union City, Secaucus, and Hoboken police departments, along with the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Gangs Task Force, led to Krecz's arrest on May 3, 2022, in Jersey City, where he was found in possession of a handgun.
Krecz's sentencing is scheduled for January 17, 2025.