For Immediate Release:
May 24, 2023

Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced that on May 23, 2023, RAUL TORRES of North Bergen, NJ and CARLOS BURGOS of Jersey City, NJ were sentenced to 30 years in New Jersey State Prison (“NJSP”) after pleading guilty to aggravated manslaughter, robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, and weapons offenses in connection with the death of David Duque Soto in Fairview, NJ on June 29, 2019.

On June 29, 2019, TORRES, BURGOS, and others conspired to rob David Duque Soto at his home at 415 4th Avenue in Fairview. During this armed robbery, Duque Soto was shot and subsequently died of his injuries. On March 31, 2023, BURGOS and TORRES pled guilty to entering the apartment armed with loaded handguns and shooting and killing the victim. On May 23, 2023, the Honorable Margaret M. Foti, P.J.Cr., sentenced BURGOS and TORRES each to 30 years in NJSP subject to the No Early Release Act, which requires that they serve 85% of their sentence without parole.

TORRES and BURGOS are the latest defendants to be sentenced in this multi-defendant case. In March, a jury convicted DAVID MARTINEZ of felony murder for his role in this shooting, and he was sentenced to 30 years in NJSP on April 28, 2023. LEXIE BURKE previously pled guilty to aggravated manslaughter, robbery, and conspiracy, and is scheduled for sentencing on June 23, 2023.

The State was represented by Assistant Prosecutors Suzanne Cevasco and Matthew Fitzpatrick of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, with the assistance of Legal Assistant Catherine Fantuzzi, Esq. and Assistant Prosecutor Jaimee Chasmer of the Appellate Section.

Prosecutor Musella thanks Assistant Prosecutors Cevasco and Fitzpatrick for their zealous advocacy for the victim and his family and for helping combat gun violence in Bergen County through this verdict. Prosecutor Musella also commends the detectives of his Major Crimes Unit as well as members of the Fairview Police Department, and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office for their skill and professionalism in investigating this matter.