For Immediate Release
March 5, 2010 United States Attorney's Office
District of New Jersey
Contact: (973) 645-2700
Two NYPD Police Officers and Others Charged with Robbing Carlstadt Company of $1 Million of Perfume
NEWARK, NJ—Two New York Police Department Officers, Richard LeBlanca, 25, of New York City, and Brian Checo, 24, of New York City, along with five other co-conspirators, were arrested today for their involvement in the robbery of a perfume distributor of $1 million in perfume, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced. The complaint was issued on March 4 and unsealed with today’s arrests. Also charged in addition to LeBlanca and Checo were Gabriel Vargas, 31, of Brooklyn, Luis R. Morales, 31, of Brooklyn, Anselmo Jimenes, a/k/a “Ansemo Jimenes,” 29, of Brooklyn, Alan A. Bannout, 23, of Brooklyn, and Orlando Garcia, 35, of New York. The complaint alleges that the defendants conspired to obstruct commerce by robbing hundreds of boxes of high-end perfumes and fragrances from a warehouse used by a company known as In Style USA, Inc in Carlstadt, New Jersey. LeBlanca, Checo, Vergas, Morales, and Garcia were arrested earlier today by special agents with the FBI. Authorities expect Jimenes, who is currently incarcerated in Bergen County on local charges, to appear to face the charges Monday. Bannout has not yet been arrested. According to the complaint, on February 9, the defendants rented five trucks from rental companies in Brooklyn and Jersey City. Vargas and Morales, who were later joined by Jimenes and approximately 16 day laborers, then traveled to Carlstadt, New Jersey, where they met the remaining conspirators outside of the warehouse. According to the complaint, LeBlanca and Checo entered the warehouse office yelling “NYPD! Hands up!” brandishing firearms and displaying law enforcement badges. LeBlanca and Checo, who were aided by Vargas, Garcia and another conspirator, restrained approximately 11 company employees’ and held them hostage while the robbery took place. The complaint further states that the conspirators stated that they were performing a routine “inspection” of the company. The complaint further alleges that, while the employees were held hostage, Morales, Bannout, Jimenes, and the other unknown individual, along with the day laborers, loaded hundreds of boxes containing various types of perfumes into the rental trucks. Carlstadt police officers, who responded to the scene after receiving a 9-1-1 call, arrested Morales and Jimenes after their unsuccessful attempts to flee. The officers also seized two of the estimated five trucks that contained hundreds of boxes of perfume, and which LeBlanca had rented earlier that day. The total retail value of perfume was estimated at $1 million. An individual referenced as “Victim #1" in the complaint indicated that the defendants also took a DVR recording device and monitor, and approximately $3,000 to $4,000 in cash that was contained in the cash drawer. “An armed robbery is an extremely serious federal crime, particularly when it is orchestrated and perpetuated by officers sworn to uphold the very laws that they are alleged to have violated,” Fishman said. “The officers’ actions, if proven true, would constitute nothing less than the ultimate betrayal of the trust afforded these officers.” “Today’s arrest of this robbery crew exemplifies the excellence of law enforcement cooperation,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Edward Kahrer. It also shows that law enforcement agencies will not tolerate enforcement who betray their oath and tarnish their badges, as well as the reputation that others have given their lives to preserve.” The charge set forth in the complaint carries a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Despite the complaint, all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The FBI has requested that anyone having further information of this robbery, please call the FBI at (973) 684-6614. Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Kevin B. Cruise, for the investigation. Fishman also thanked the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of John L. Molinelli, as well as the Carlstadt Police Department and the NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau, for their assistance in the investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Gramiccioni and Eric T. Kanefsky of the Office’s Special Prosecutions Division and Criminal Division, respectively.
NEWARK, NJ—Two New York Police Department Officers, Richard LeBlanca, 25, of New York City, and Brian Checo, 24, of New York City, along with five other co-conspirators, were arrested today for their involvement in the robbery of a perfume distributor of $1 million in perfume, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced. The complaint was issued on March 4 and unsealed with today’s arrests. Also charged in addition to LeBlanca and Checo were Gabriel Vargas, 31, of Brooklyn, Luis R. Morales, 31, of Brooklyn, Anselmo Jimenes, a/k/a “Ansemo Jimenes,” 29, of Brooklyn, Alan A. Bannout, 23, of Brooklyn, and Orlando Garcia, 35, of New York. The complaint alleges that the defendants conspired to obstruct commerce by robbing hundreds of boxes of high-end perfumes and fragrances from a warehouse used by a company known as In Style USA, Inc in Carlstadt, New Jersey. LeBlanca, Checo, Vergas, Morales, and Garcia were arrested earlier today by special agents with the FBI. Authorities expect Jimenes, who is currently incarcerated in Bergen County on local charges, to appear to face the charges Monday. Bannout has not yet been arrested. According to the complaint, on February 9, the defendants rented five trucks from rental companies in Brooklyn and Jersey City. Vargas and Morales, who were later joined by Jimenes and approximately 16 day laborers, then traveled to Carlstadt, New Jersey, where they met the remaining conspirators outside of the warehouse. According to the complaint, LeBlanca and Checo entered the warehouse office yelling “NYPD! Hands up!” brandishing firearms and displaying law enforcement badges. LeBlanca and Checo, who were aided by Vargas, Garcia and another conspirator, restrained approximately 11 company employees’ and held them hostage while the robbery took place. The complaint further states that the conspirators stated that they were performing a routine “inspection” of the company. The complaint further alleges that, while the employees were held hostage, Morales, Bannout, Jimenes, and the other unknown individual, along with the day laborers, loaded hundreds of boxes containing various types of perfumes into the rental trucks. Carlstadt police officers, who responded to the scene after receiving a 9-1-1 call, arrested Morales and Jimenes after their unsuccessful attempts to flee. The officers also seized two of the estimated five trucks that contained hundreds of boxes of perfume, and which LeBlanca had rented earlier that day. The total retail value of perfume was estimated at $1 million. An individual referenced as “Victim #1" in the complaint indicated that the defendants also took a DVR recording device and monitor, and approximately $3,000 to $4,000 in cash that was contained in the cash drawer. “An armed robbery is an extremely serious federal crime, particularly when it is orchestrated and perpetuated by officers sworn to uphold the very laws that they are alleged to have violated,” Fishman said. “The officers’ actions, if proven true, would constitute nothing less than the ultimate betrayal of the trust afforded these officers.” “Today’s arrest of this robbery crew exemplifies the excellence of law enforcement cooperation,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Edward Kahrer. It also shows that law enforcement agencies will not tolerate enforcement who betray their oath and tarnish their badges, as well as the reputation that others have given their lives to preserve.” The charge set forth in the complaint carries a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Despite the complaint, all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The FBI has requested that anyone having further information of this robbery, please call the FBI at (973) 684-6614. Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Kevin B. Cruise, for the investigation. Fishman also thanked the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of John L. Molinelli, as well as the Carlstadt Police Department and the NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau, for their assistance in the investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Gramiccioni and Eric T. Kanefsky of the Office’s Special Prosecutions Division and Criminal Division, respectively.
1 comment:
WHAT A FUCKING JOKE !!!!!!!!!!!!!
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