Police in Middletown say they have arrested an illegal immigrant from Honduras who used at least one juvenile to help him pull off a yearlong string of burglaries in that town and others.
Here’s the full text of a news release from Lieutenant Joe Capriotti:
The Middletown Township Police Department has arrested a Middlesex County man who was employing juveniles in a burglary ring that operated in Monmouth County, Union County and Somerset County.
Middletown Twp. Detective Gerald Weimer, Detective Michael Kenney and Holmdel Detective Sergeant James Smythe have been investigating a string of residential burglaries in Middletown, Holmdel and Marlboro occurring over the past year. A break in the case came recently when forensic evidence recovered at one of the burglaries identified a fifteen (15) year old juvenile from Elizabeth as a suspect. Further investigation determined a 29 year old man with numerous aliases, (Joeys Sebastian Cruz, Jorge Luna, Joeys Sebastian Cruz Morales, Manuel Gomez, Jorge Armondo Vadladares Luna), also from Elizabeth, was soliciting juveniles to accompany him to homes throughout central and northern New Jersey to commit burglaries.
DSG. Smythe, Det. Weimer and Det. Kenney arrested Cruz on January 19, 2010 in Elizabeth with the assistance of Elizabeth Police Detective James Ponto. A search of Cruz’s residence revealed proceeds that have been identified from home burglaries in Middletown, Holmdel. Marlboro and Green Brook, N.J. Other items recovered, including jewelry, TV components and electronics have yet to be identified. The investigation is continuing with additional charges expected as more information is gathered.
The 15 year old from Elizabeth has been charged with burglary, theft and conspiracy to commit burglary and additional juveniles are expected to be charged. Cruz has been charged with burglary, theft, conspiracy to commit burglary and theft and hindering apprehension by giving false names to law enforcement officers.
Cruz is being held in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in lieu of $100,000 bail on the local charges. Additionally it is believed Cruz, who is a native of Honduras, is in the United States illegally under the name of Jorge Luna and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency has issued a no bail immigration detainer pending their investigation.
