For Immediate Release:
September 24, 2026

Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of 27-year-old FREYBERTH A. ACOSTA DOMINGUEZ of Indianapolis, IN; 25-year-old CARLOS A. AULAR MONTOYA of Buffalo, NY; 37-year-old FREDDY R. MARIN PACHECO of the Bronx, NY; 31-year-old ELVIS SANCHEZ-PAEZ of Brooklyn, NY; and 18-year-old LUIS FERNANDO SUAREZ VASQUEZ of Chicago, IL, on charges stemming from an armed home invasion and robbery in Lyndhurst, NJ. Additionally, charges were filed against 31-year-old ERMENSO J. DURAN MALDONADO of Newark, NJ, as well as delinquency charges that were filed against a 16-year-old juvenile from Chicago, IL, who was 15 years old at the time of the offenses. These arrests and charges are the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Jeff Angermeyer, and the Lyndhurst Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Carrino.

On June 6, 2026, at approximately 9:30 p.m., the Lyndhurst Police Department responded to an armed home invasion and robbery at a private residence on Milton Avenue. Responding officers determined that two of the victims arrived home, pulled into their garage, and were approached by multiple armed individuals dressed in dark clothing. The suspects pointed firearms at the victims and stole valuables and other personal property. At the same time, an additional suspect forcefully restrained a juvenile victim, who was unrelated to the other victims, but happened to be in the area at the time of the armed robbery. The juvenile victim was grabbed from behind and their mouth was covered to prevent them from alerting nearby people to the armed robbery that was taking place.

The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad was notified of the incident, responded to the scene, and initiated a joint investigation with the Lyndhurst Police Department. The preliminary investigation included a review of nearby surveillance video that confirmed there were six suspects, utilizing two vehicles. The group pulled up to the scene minutes before the victims arrived home. Once the victims parked their vehicle, the suspects approached with guns drawn, entering through the garage. The suspects stole jewelry, money, a cell phone, a smart watch, handbags, and other miscellaneous belongings from the victims. Based on further investigation, law enforcement determined that some of the suspects conducted surveillance on the victims, following them from their place of business. Specifically, the investigation revealed that the suspects had previously followed the victims home in the days preceding the armed robbery.

During a months-long, nationwide investigation that followed, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and Lyndhurst Police Department identified CARLOS A. AULAR MONTOYA, ERMENSO J. DURAN MALDONADO, FREDDY R. MARIN PACHECO, ELVIS SANCHEZ-PAEZ, LUIS FERNANDO SUAREZ VASQUEZ, FREYBERTH A. ACOSTA DOMINGUEZ, and a 16-year-old juvenile as the suspects responsible for the home invasion and armed robbery. Earlier this month, in September 2026, detectives secured arrest warrants charging each suspect accordingly.

FREYBERTH A. ACOSTA DOMINGUEZ, who is incarcerated in the State of Indiana on an unrelated matter, was charged with two counts of first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(1); first-degree home invasion burglary, N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2.1; second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1); second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1); two counts of fourth-degree aggravated assault by pointing a firearm, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(4); and first-degree use of a juvenile to commit a criminal offense, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-9a. FREYBERTH A. ACOSTA DOMINGUEZ was served with the charges and remains in the custody of Indiana authorities, pending extradition to Bergen County, NJ.

LUIS FERNANDO SUAREZ VASQUEZ, who is incarcerated in the State of New York on an unrelated matter, was charged with two counts of first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(1); first-degree home invasion burglary, N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2.1; second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1); second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1); two counts of fourth-degree aggravated assault by pointing a firearm, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(4); and first-degree use of a juvenile to commit a criminal offense, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-9a. LUIS FERNANDO SUAREZ VASQUEZ was served with the charges and remains in the custody of New York authorities, pending extradition to Bergen County, NJ.

The 16-year-old Chicago, IL juvenile, who was 15 years old at the time of the offenses, and is currently incarcerated in the State of Indiana on an unrelated matter, was charged with juvenile delinquency, specifically: two counts of first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(1); first-degree home invasion burglary, N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2.1; second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1); second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1); and two counts of fourth-degree aggravated assault by pointing a firearm, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(4). The juvenile was served with the charges and remains in the custody of Indiana authorities, pending extradition to Bergen County, NJ.

On September 5, 2026, with the assistance of the New Jersey State Police, ELVIS SANCHEZ-PAEZ was located and taken into custody in Wharton, NJ, as a result of the charges filed by detectives in Bergen County. Specifically, ELVIS SANCHEZ-PAEZ was charged with two counts of first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(1); first-degree home invasion burglary, N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2.1; second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1); second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1); third-degree criminal restraint, N.J.S.A. 2C:13-2a; three counts of fourth-degree aggravated assault by pointing a firearm, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(4); and first-degree use of a juvenile to commit a criminal offense, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-9a. Following his arrest, SANCHEZ-PAEZ was remanded to the Bergen County Jail, made a first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, NJ, and detained pending trial.

On Friday, September 11, 2026, with the assistance of the Mount Vernon (NY) Police Department, FREDDY R. MARIN PACHECO was located and arrested in Mount Vernon, NY, as a result of the charges filed by detectives in Bergen County. Specifically, FREDDY R. MARIN PACHECO was charged with two counts of first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(1); first-degree home invasion burglary, N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2.1; second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1); second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1); two counts of fourth-degree aggravated assault by pointing a firearm, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(4); and first-degree use of a juvenile to commit a criminal offense, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-9a. FREDDY R. MARIN PACHECO was detained by New York authorities, pending extradition to Bergen County, NJ.

On Wednesday, September 16, 2026, with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) New York Field Division and the New York City Police Department (NYPD), CARLOS A. AULAR MONTOYA was located and arrested in the Bronx, NY, as a result of the charges filed by detectives in Bergen County. Specifically, CARLOS A. AULAR MONTOYA was charged with two counts of first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(1); first-degree home invasion burglary, N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2.1; second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1); second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1); two counts of fourth-degree aggravated assault by pointing a firearm, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(4); and first-degree use of a juvenile to commit a criminal offense, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-9a. CARLOS A. AULAR MONTOYA was detained by New York authorities, pending extradition to Bergen County, NJ.

Also on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, with the assistance of the Bergen County Regional SWAT Team, detectives executed a search warrant at the residence of ERMENSO J. DURAN MALDONADO in Newark, NJ. ERMENSO J. DURAN MALDONADO was not present at the time, but has since been charged in absentia with two counts of first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(1); first-degree home invasion burglary, N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2.1; second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1); second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1); two counts of fourth-degree aggravated assault by pointing a firearm, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(4); and first-degree use of a juvenile to commit a criminal offense, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-9a.

As of this date, continued attempts to locate and arrest ERMENSO J. DURAN MALDONADO have been unsuccessful. His current whereabouts are unknown, and he remains a fugitive from justice. Anyone with information about ERMENSO J. DURAN MALDONADO or this case may contact the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Tips Line at (201) 226-5532.

Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations, and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He would like to thank the Lyndhurst Police Department for its partnership and assistance throughout this investigation. Moreover, Prosecutor Musella recognizes and thanks the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office for its cooperation. Finally, he thanks the Bergen County Regional SWAT Team; the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office; the Chicago (IL) Police Department; the Hasbrouck Heights Police Department; the Mount Vernon (NY) Police Department; the New Jersey State Police; the New York Field Division of the ATF; the NYPD; the Paramus Police Department; and the Tenafly Police Department for their assistance throughout the investigation, particularly for their individual and collective efforts in helping to apprehend the various defendants.