For Immediate Release: October 22, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of ABHISHEK VIJAYAKUMAR, 41, of Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, on the 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 Thursday, September 26, 2024, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit received information that ABHISHEK VIJAYAKUMAR was suspected of possessing child pornography. In conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Newark Division, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office initiated an investigation, which included a court-authorized search of VIJAYAKUMAR’s electronic devices. The investigation revealed that VIJAYAKUMAR viewed, downloaded, saved, and/or possessed items depicting nude and/or sexually explicit prepubescent children. As a result of the investigation, ABHISHEK VIJAYAKUMAR was arrested on Monday, October 21, 2024, in Paramus, New Jersey and charged with third-degree possession…

For Immediate Release: October 19, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 42-year-old UVALDO GONZALEZ of the Bronx, NY on additional charges of armed robbery, carjacking, receiving a stolen motor vehicle, theft of a motor vehicle, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. The arrest was the result of a continuing investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, the South Hackensack Police Department under the direction of Chief Robert Chinchar, and the Port Authority Police Department under the direction of Superintendent Edward Cetnar. As previously reported, on Sunday, October 13, 2024, at approximately 2:30 a.m., the South Hackensack Police Department responded to a business on Route 46 following a motor-vehicle crash and a reported stolen vehicle. The occupant of the crashed vehicle abandoned it after crashing, and attempted to steal another nearby vehicle, but was unsuccessful. Moments…

For Immediate Release: October 18, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of ANDREW C. BAKER, 22, of River Edge, NJ, on charges of distribution and 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 Friday, October 18, 2024, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit executed a search warrant at the residence of ANDREW C. BAKER during the course of an Internet child sexual abuse material investigation. The investigation revealed that BAKER used the Internet to view, download, possess, distribute, and share items depicting nude and/or sexually explicit prepubescent and pubescent children. As a result of the investigation, ANDREW C. BAKER was arrested on Friday, October 18, 2024, in Paramus, NJ and charged with second-degree distribution of child pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4(b)5(a)(i); and third-degree possession…

For Immediate Release: October 18, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of STEPHEN BOJEKIAN, 69, of Franklin Lakes, NJ, on the 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 Thursday, October 17, 2024, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit executed a search warrant at the residence of STEPHEN BOJEKIAN during the course of an Internet child sexual abuse material investigation. The investigation revealed that BOJEKIAN used the Internet to view, download, and possess items depicting nude and/or sexually explicit prepubescent and pubescent children. As a result of the investigation, STEPHEN BOJEKIAN was arrested on Thursday, October 17, 2024, in Paramus, NJ and charged with third-degree possession of child pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4(b)5(b)(iii). BOJEKIAN was remanded to the Morris County Jail pending…

For Immediate Release: October 18, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the sentencing term handed down in Bergen County Superior Court against AUGUSTO PEREZ of North Bergen, NJ in connection with the 2021 stabbing death of Omar Cruz. On February 16, 2021, AUGUSTO PEREZ stabbed Omar Cruz to death behind the Ulta Beauty store in the Bergen Town Center mall in Maywood, NJ. An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, Maywood Police Department, and Paramus Police Department led to the arrest of PEREZ at his North Bergen home on February 17, 2021. On April 5, 2024, after a six-week trial before the Honorable Susan J. Steele, J.S.C. in Bergen County Superior Court, a jury convicted AUGUSTO PEREZ of aggravated manslaughter and hindering his own apprehension by suppression of blood evidence connecting him to the crime. On Wednesday, October 16, 2024, during a proceeding before the…

For Immediate Release: October 16, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announces the following additional information related to the ongoing investigation of a fatal crash that occurred in Midland Park, NJ. This investigation is being conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck and the Midland Park Police Department under the direction of Chief Michael Powderley. As previously reported, on Friday, October 11, 2024, at approximately 7:09 p.m., the Midland Park Police Department responded to a 9-1-1 call reporting a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle on Godwin Avenue. Upon arrival, officers determined that the involved vehicle left the scene of the collision. The struck pedestrian was subsequently identified as 70-year-old Paul Adams, whose last known address was in Wyckoff, NJ. He was transported from the scene to St. Joseph’s University Medical Center where he was ultimately pronounced deceased. The Bergen County Prosecutor’s…

For Immediate Release: October 16, 2024 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of MATTHEW S. CHINCHILLA, 18, of Lodi, NJ, on charges of possession and distribution 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 Tuesday, October 15, 2024, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit executed a search warrant at the residence of MATTHEW S. CHINCHILLA during the course of an Internet child sexual abuse material investigation. The investigation revealed that CHINCHILLA used the Internet to view, download, possess, and distribute items depicting nude and/or sexually explicit prepubescent and pubescent children. As a result of the investigation, MATTHEW S. CHINCHILLA was arrested on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, in Paramus, NJ and charged with second-degree distribution of child pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4(b)5(a)(i); and third-degree possession of child…

For Immediate Release:October 15, 2024 The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Ramsey Police Department investigated a fire that occurred in Ramsey, NJ, on Saturday, October 12, 2024, at approximately 9:27 p.m. Following their initial response and fire suppression efforts, the Ramsey Police Department and Fire Department notified the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad of a three-alarm fire at a private residence on Carriage Lane. Fire Investigators from the Prosecutor’s Office responded to the scene. The investigation revealed that two residents were home at the time of the fire and were able to safely evacuate. Arson investigators concluded that the fire was accidental in nature. The joint investigation was conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck and the Ramsey Police Department under the direction of Chief Brian Lyman. Prosecutor Musella would like to thank the Ramsey Police Department, Ramsey…

Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announces the following information:  The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad, the South Hackensack Police Department, and the Port Authority Police Department are investigating a series of connected events that occurred earlier this morning throughout Bergen County, NJ. On Sunday, October 13, 2024, at approximately 2:34 a.m., the South Hackensack Police Department responded to a business on Route 46 following a motor-vehicle crash and a reported stolen vehicle.  The occupant of the crashed vehicle abandoned it in South Hackensack after crashing, and attempted to steal another nearby vehicle, but was unsuccessful.  The suspect, however, successfully committed an armed carjacking of an additional vehicle, allowing him to flee the scene before officers arrived.  Responding officers notified the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and detectives from the Special Investigations Squad initiated a joint investigation.  Detectives soon learned that the crashed vehicle was previously stolen out of New…