For Immediate Release:
July 3, 2026

Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests and indictments of 41-year-old RAUDEL CANGAS of Linden, NJ; 37-year-old KELVIN F. MOREL of Fair Lawn, NJ; and 43-year-old MIGUEL SANCHEZ of the Bronx, NY on charges stemming from an armed home invasion investigation. Additionally, Prosecutor Musella announced charges and indictments filed against 55-year-old MARIUS FICA of Albuquerque, NM; and 39-year-old SORIN L. PAVEL of Sunnyside, NY related to a fraud scheme discovered during the armed home invasion investigation. The arrests, charges, and indictments are the result of a months-long investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Jeff Angermeyer, and the Rochelle Park Police Department, under the direction of Chief Dean Pinto.

On Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at approximately 3:00 a.m., the Rochelle Park Police Department responded to a home invasion in progress at a private residence on Howard Avenue in Rochelle Park, NJ. Responding officers were alerted that gunshots had been fired, and an ongoing struggle between the residents and the armed suspects who had broken into the home was underway. While responding to the scene, law enforcement spotted a suspicious vehicle—later linked to MIGUEL SANCHEZ and ultimately tied to the incident in question—that was fleeing the area as officers approached the neighborhood. Rochelle Park police officers, with assistance from nearby police units in surrounding towns, initiated a pursuit of this suspect vehicle. Officers ultimately lost sight of it and terminated the pursuit.

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 Rochelle Park Police Department. During the investigation into the armed home invasion, detectives discovered criminal activity was ongoing at the residence that was targeted by the unknown home invasion suspects.

On Wednesday, March 11, 2026, as a result of this portion of the investigation, detectives determined that the residence in question was a short-term rental property and two of its occupants, MARIUS FICA and SORIN L. PAVEL, were utilizing the home to engage in criminal activity related to credit card fraud and identity theft.

As the investigation continued, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Rochelle Park Police Department were able to identify the three suspects responsible for the armed home invasion, namely RAUDEL CANGAS, KELVIN F. MOREL, and MIGUEL SANCHEZ. As a result, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, criminal charges were filed against CANGAS, MOREL, and SANCHEZ in connection with the armed home invasion.

On Thursday, April 2, 2026, with the assistance of the Union County Regional SWAT Team, RAUDEL CANGAS was located, arrested, and taken into custody by detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Rochelle Park Police Department. During a court-authorized search of his residence, detectives recovered multiple handguns, ammunition, a rifle, and other firearm-related accessories. CANGAS was remanded to the Bergen County Jail, where he remains pending further court action.

Also on Thursday, April 2, 2026, with the assistance of the Bergen County Regional SWAT Team, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Rochelle Park Police Department executed a court-authorized search warrant at the residence of KELVIN F. MOREL in Fair Lawn, NJ, placed him under arrest, and lodged him in the Bergen County Jail pending a detention hearing in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, NJ. MOREL was later ordered released pending further court action.

Also on Thursday, April 2, 2026, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Violent Threat Initiative and the New York City Police Department (NYPD), MIGUEL SANCHEZ was located and arrested in the Bronx, NY. SANCHEZ was held in the Eric M. Taylor Correctional Center in East Elmhurst, NY, before being extradited to Bergen County, NJ, and ultimately remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending further court action.

On June 5, 2026, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office filed a motion to compel the Court to reopen the detention hearing of KELVIN F. MOREL based on the continuing investigation by detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Rochelle Park Police Department. On June 12, 2026, the Court granted the motion to reopen the detention hearing, and ultimately ordered MOREL detained at the Bergen County Jail pending further court action.

On Tuesday, June 23, 2026, an eighteen-count indictment by a Bergen County Grand Jury was unsealed, charging RAUDEL CANGAS, KELVIN F. MOREL, and MIGUEL SANCHEZ in connection with the armed home invasion investigation. RAUDEL CANGAS, KELVIN F. MOREL, and MIGUEL SANCHEZ were each indicted on charges of first-degree home invasion burglary, N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2.1; two counts of first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1; two counts of second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b; two counts of second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a; second-degree possession of a bladed weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4d; three counts of third-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(2); third-degree resisting arrest by eluding, N.J.S.A. 2C:29-2b; two counts of fourth-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(4); and fourth-degree possession of a bladed weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5d. RAUDEL CANGAS was also charged with three counts of second-degree certain persons not to have any firearms, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-7b.

On Wednesday, June 24, 2026, a seven-count indictment by a Bergen County Grand Jury was unsealed, charging MARIUS FICA and SORIN L. PAVEL in connection with the fraudulent activity uncovered at the short-term rental property. MARIUS FICA and SORIN L. PAVEL were each indicted on charges of third-degree possession of incomplete credit cards, N.J.S.A. 2C:21-6f; and fourth-degree possession of a scanning device with the intent to defraud, N.J.S.A. 2C:21-6.1c. MARIUS FICA was also charged with three counts of fourth-degree possession of false government documents, N.J.S.A. 2C:21-2.1d, and SORIN L. PAVEL was also charged with two counts of fourth-degree possession of false government documents, N.J.S.A. 2C:21-2.1d.

Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella states that the charges are merely accusations, and that all the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutor Musella would like to thank the Rochelle Park Police Department for its ongoing assistance and partnership throughout this case. Moreover, he thanks the Union County Prosecutor’s Office for their coordination during this investigation. Finally, Prosecutor Musella recognizes and thanks the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, Bergen County Regional SWAT Team, Fair Lawn Police Department, FBI Violent Threat Initiative, Linden Police Department, the NYPD, and the Union County Regional SWAT Team for their individual and collective assistance with the apprehension of the various defendants.