| TRENTON – Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman announced that five men were indicted today on charges related to an armed robbery at the Caesars Casino in Atlantic City last year.
The Division of Criminal Justice obtained a seven-count Atlantic County grand jury indictment charging the following five men as indicated:
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Izyiah Plummer, 20, of Atlantic City, N.J. Robbery (1st degree), Conspiracy to Commit Robbery (2nd degree), Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose (2nd degree), Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (2nd degree), Aggravated Assault (4th degree).
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Aaron Evans, 25, of Atlantic City, N.J. Robbery (1st degree) and Conspiracy to Commit Robbery (2nd degree).
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Nathaniel Greenlee, 22, of Bear, Delaware. Robbery (1st degree), Conspiracy to Commit Robbery (2nd degree) and Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution (3rd degree).
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Donavon Jackson, 20, of Wilmington, Delaware. Robbery (1st degree), Conspiracy to Commit Robbery (2nd degree) and Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution (3rd degree).
- Dwayne Morgan II, 21, of Pleasantville, N.J. Receiving Stolen Property (3rd degree).
The indictment is the result of an investigation by the New Jersey State Police Casino Gaming Bureau and the Division of Criminal Justice Specialized Crimes Bureau-Casino Prosecutions Unit. The defendants were charged in connection with an armed robbery of a security guard and a second casino employee who were removing cash from a kiosk inside Caesars Casino on July 21, 2014.
“It is alleged that Plummer, who had been fired as a security guard at Caesars, used his knowledge of casino security operations to target the employees carrying out this large cash transfer, ruthlessly holding a gun to the head of a security guard,” said Acting Attorney General Hoffman. “This allegedly was a violent and dangerous inside job.”
“This was an audacious robbery that put lives in danger,” said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice. “Maintaining security in Atlantic City’s casinos is a top priority, and we will continue to work closely with the New Jersey State Police to make sure all crimes in the casinos are aggressively investigated and prosecuted.”
“The State Police Casino Gaming Bureau is comprised of some of our best and brightest,” said Colonel Rick Fuentes, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “Our detectives were able to quickly apprehend the five suspects due to some great police work, and great partnerships with assisting agencies.”
It is alleged that at about 6:18 a.m. on July 21, 2014, Plummer and Evans arrived at Caesars Casino in a car driven by Greenlee, with Jackson in the passenger seat. Plummer and Evans allegedly entered the casino wearing masks and gloves and approached a security guard and another casino employee who were loading full cash boxes onto a trolley from a self-redemption terminal at a kiosk. Plummer allegedly pointed a handgun at the two employees. It is alleged that Plummer pointed the gun at the security guard’s head while Evans removed three cash boxes from the trolley. As the two robbers were fleeing the casino, one of them dropped one of the cash boxes and left it behind. It is alleged that Plummer and Evans escaped from the casino with two cash boxes containing approximately $181,200 and entered Greenlee’s vehicle.
Greenlee allegedly drove them to Plummer’s apartment in the Venice Park section of Atlantic City. There the proceeds of the robbery allegedly were divided between Plummer, Evans, Greenlee and Jackson. Plummer also allegedly gave $5,000 each to his apartment mate Morgan and a second apartment mate. Another $5,000 allegedly was given to a third man who drove Greenlee and Jackson out of Atlantic City after the robbery. Those other two men and Plummer’s girlfriend were initially charged in the investigation, but they were admitted into the Pre-Trial Intervention Program. A search warrant was executed at Plummer’s apartment, where a black ski mask, ammunition for a .38 special handgun and $43,900 in cash were recovered. A search warrant also was executed at Evans’ home, where $4,300 in cash was seized. Detectives found a green plastic handle from one of the cash boxes in the street in front of Evans’ home.
Deputy Attorney General Kerry DiJoseph presented the indictment to the Atlantic County grand jury for the Division of Criminal Justice Specialized Crimes Bureau-Casino Prosecutions Unit.
The lead detectives on the case for the New Jersey State Police Casino Gaming Bureau were Detective Michael Nelson and Detective Sgt. Charles Vicente. The Atlantic City Police Department, Pleasantville Police Department, Delaware State Police and Pennsylvania State Police provided valuable assistance in the investigation.
The first-degree robbery charge carries a sentence of 10 to 20 years in state prison, including a period of parole ineligibility equal to 85 percent of the sentence imposed, and a fine of up to $200,000. Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000. The second-degree conspiracy charge also carries a period of ineligibility equal to 85 percent of the sentence imposed. The second-degree weapons charges against Plummer carry a mandatory minimum term of parole ineligibility of one-half of the sentence imposed or 3 ½ years, whichever is greater. Third-degree crimes carry a sentence of three to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000.
The indictment is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The indictment was handed in Superior Court in Atlantic County, where the defendants will be ordered to appear in court at a later date for arraignment on the charges.
All of the defendants were arrested after the robbery and currently are free on bail. #### |
