For Immediate Release: June 28, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 39-year-old JESUS A. CANTILLO of Paterson, NJ on charges of possession with the intent to distribute narcotics and drug distribution. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck and the Westwood Police Department under the direction of Chief Michael Pontillo. On Thursday, May 2, 2024, at approximately 4:38 p.m., the Westwood Police Department responded to a 911 call reporting an adult male who was unconscious and unresponsive in a private residence. The victim, identified as 38-year-old Lance Kerness of Westwood, NJ, was located by first responders and pronounced deceased at the scene. Indicators of a possible drug overdose were noted, and detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotic Task Force were notified. An investigation was initiated by the Bergen County…

For Immediate Release: June 26, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of CLYDE JOHNSON, 26, of Fair Lawn, NJ on charges of false public alarm. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck. In March 2024, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit and Intelligence and Counterterrorism Unit initiated an investigation into a pattern of anonymous hoax phone calls and emails directed to crisis centers, local businesses, and law enforcement agencies regarding an individual armed with a deadly weapon or explosive. The investigation revealed that in January, March and April 2024, CLYDE JOHNSON made false reports via phone and email affecting locations and law enforcement agencies in Bergen County, NJ, specifically Franklin Lakes, Paramus, Wyckoff, Maywood, Fair Lawn, Fort Lee, and Bergenfield. As a result of the investigation, CLYDE JOHNSON…

For Immediate Release: June 20, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 69-year-old BRUCE PIEKARSKY of Davie, FL on charges of theft, misapplication of entrusted property, and tampering with public records. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck. In September 2023, the New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts referred information to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit regarding an allegation of misappropriation of funds involving a former court officer who was responsible for money collection pursuant to civil court orders. Detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit initiated an investigation into the alleged activity. The comprehensive, months-long investigation revealed that BRUCE PIEKARSKY mishandled funds that he was entrusted to collect beginning in 2014. Specifically, an audit of his activity revealed approximately $1.5 million in missing funds…

For Immediate Release: June 20, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 52-year-old BRAULIO F. TORAL of Hackensack, NJ on charges of sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child, aggravated criminal sexual contact, invasion of privacy, and criminal sexual contact. The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and the Hackensack Police Department under the direction of Officer-in-Charge Michael Antista. On Monday, June 17, 2024, the Hackensack Police Department contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit regarding an alleged incident of invasion of privacy that had occurred in the past. An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Hackensack Police Department revealed that BRAULIO TORAL had recorded the victim, without their consent, on numerous occasions, under circumstances in which one would not expect to be observed. The investigation…

For Immediate Release: June 19, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of ELVIS DANIEL CAMACHO MONTILLA, 25, of 106 Lester Street, Wallington, NJ on a charge of possession of child sexual abuse material. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck. On Wednesday, June 19, 2024, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit executed a search warrant at the residence of ELVIS DANIEL CAMACHO MONTILLA during the course of an Internet child sexual abuse material investigation. The investigation revealed that MONTILLA used the Internet to view, download and possess items depicting nude and/or sexually explicit prepubescent children. As a result of the investigation, ELVIS DANIEL CAMACHO MONTILLA was arrested on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in Paramus, NJ and charged with third-degree possession of child pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4(b)5(b)(iii). MONTILLA was remanded…

For Immediate Release: June 18, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced that on May 24, 2024, ZEF HAJDARI, 27, of Edgewater, NJ, pled guilty to the June 16, 2022, attempted armed robbery of a Teaneck resident. HAJDARI is the first co-defendant to plead guilty in this multi-defendant case. Specifically, HAJDARI pled guilty to first-degree robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a. The State will recommend a sentence of six years in New Jersey State Prison. Sentencing is scheduled for September 13, 2024. On Thursday, June 16, 2022, officers from the Teaneck Police Department responded to an attempted armed robbery. Responding officers discovered that the victim arrived at his residence, exited his vehicle, and was approached by a suspect who pointed a firearm at him while attempting to rob him of his belongings. The victim was able to flee, at which point the armed suspect, along with an additional suspect who was hiding…

For Immediate Release: June 18, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 36-year-old BRIANA RODRIGUEZ of Bloomfield, NJ on a charge of theft. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck. In March of 2022, the Hackensack Police Department notified the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit of an alleged employee embezzlement. Detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit initiated an investigation into the alleged activity. The comprehensive investigation revealed that BRIANA RODRIGUEZ utilized her employment as a medical billing professional to embezzle approximately $400,000 from her employer through unauthorized refunds to accounts under her control. As a result of the investigation, on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, BRIANA RODRIGUEZ was arrested outside of her residence in Bloomfield, NJ by detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office along with…

For Immediate Release:June 16, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 29-year-old HARSHKUMAR H. PATEL of Piscataway, NJ on charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and possession of a weapon. The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck and the Englewood Cliffs Police Department under the direction of Chief William Henkelman. As previously reported, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit was notified on Saturday, June 15, 2024, that on Friday, June 14, 2024, at approximately 5:34 p.m., the Englewood Cliffs Police Department responded to a stabbing on Sylvan Avenue. Responding officers located a 30-year-old victim who was transported via ambulance to Hackensack University Medical Center, treated, and released. Detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and Englewood Cliffs Police Department…

For Immediate Release: June, 13, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 42-year-old JOSE F. VILLANUEVA of Lodi, New Jersey on charges of aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault by sexual contact, and endangering the welfare of a child. The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck and the Lodi Police Department under the direction of Chief Donald Scorzetti. On Wednesday, June 12, 2024, the Division of Child Protection and Permanency contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit regarding an alleged sexual assault of a juvenile. An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Lodi Police Department revealed that JOSE F. VILLANUEVA sexually assaulted a child, under the age of thirteen, in Lodi, NJ and in Passaic, NJ, while VILLANUEVA had a supervisory role over the child. As a result…

For Immediate Release: June 11, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 30-year-old MARLIN CERVANTES-SANTOS of Fairview, NJ, on charges of endangering the welfare of a child. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck and the Fairview Police Department under the direction of Chief Vincent Bellucci. On Monday, June 10, 2024, the Fairview Police Department contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit regarding a child under the age of thirteen who was allegedly attacked in Fairview, NJ. An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Fairview Police Department resulted in the arrest of 33-year-old JULIO AMARO-VASQUEZ of Ridgefield, NJ. Further investigation into the incident revealed that MARLIN CERVANTES-SANTOS, who was in a dating relationship with AMARO-VASQUEZ, had directed two children to provide false information to police during the…