TRENTON – Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced that a Newark man was indicted today on charges that he conspired with two other men in a carjacking in Millburn, during which he allegedly grabbed a 13-year-old girl around the neck in front of her father and threatened to kill her.
The Division of Criminal Justice Specialized Crimes Bureau today obtained an 11-count state grand jury indictment charging Ahmed Anthony, 30, of Newark, N.J., with the following offenses:
- Conspiracy (1st degree),
- Carjacking (2 counts, 1st degree),
- Robbery (2 counts, 1st degree),
- Kidnapping (2nd degree),
- Burglary (2 counts, 2nd degree),
- Terroristic Threats (3rd degree),
- Receiving Stolen Property (2nd degree), and
- Theft by Unlawful Taking (2nd degree).
The indictment was the result of an investigation by the Millburn Police Department, the Division of Criminal Justice and the New Jersey State Police. Anthony was arrested on Jan. 11 by the New Jersey State Police Fugitive Unit, the Millburn Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service NY/NJ Regional Task Force Newark Division and the New Jersey State Police Auto Theft Task Force. Anthony was ordered detained pending trial following his arrest.
“Anthony allegedly terrorized a young girl and her family while trying to steal two Range Rovers from the family’s driveway, holding the young girl in a chokehold in front of her father and threatening to kill her,” said Attorney General Grewal. “This case exemplifies how law enforcement agencies are working together in New Jersey to apprehend carjackers and protect residents from this terrifying and dangerous form of street crime.”
“This indictment reflects our commitment to meet this type of violent crime with aggressive prosecutions,” said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice. “The first-degree carjacking charges Anthony faces carry a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, including mandatory parole ineligibility equal to 85 percent of the sentence imposed.”
“Today’s indictment of Ahmed Anthony is a result of a great collaborative investigation by the Millburn Police Department, Division of Criminal Justice, New Jersey State Police, and the U.S. Marshals Service,” said Chief Brian Gilfedder of the Millburn Police Department. “Our investigation continues for the other two suspects involved. However, this is an important step in the prosecution of a violent offender who terrorized a Short Hills family.”
“No parent should have to endure the horror of having their child’s life threatened in front of them, and our hearts go out to the child who had to endure this traumatic experience,” said Colonel Patrick Callahan, Acting Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “I am thankful the State Police were able to provide investigative support to our partners in the Millburn Police Department.”
Anthony and two unidentified co-conspirators allegedly ambushed a family at about 1:48 a.m. on November 27, 2017, as the family returned from vacation to their home in Millburn. After the mother and an older child went into the house, the 13-year-old girl and her father were bringing luggage toward the home from their Range Rover. That is when Anthony allegedly grabbed the girl from behind in a choke hold and pulled her back toward the Range Rover. The father heard a man yell, “Give me your keys or I will kill your daughter.” He turned to see two men, one holding his daughter and a second man who approached him with what appeared to be a handgun and demanded his money and the keys to the Range Rover in which the family had arrived. The father handed the second man the keys and the second man drove away in the Range Rover.
At that point, Anthony, while still holding the daughter, allegedly demanded that the father get the keys to a second Range Rover parked in the driveway. The father went into the house and retrieved the second set of keys. Once outside, the father turned over the keys and the daughter was released. Anthony allegedly took the girl’s suitcase and her blanket. The father and daughter went into the house, where the father retrieved a handgun and went back outside. He allegedly confronted Anthony, who was in the second Range Rover and apparently having trouble starting the vehicle. The father allegedly pointed the gun at Anthony and ordered him to get onto the ground. Anthony allegedly exited the vehicle but fled into the street on foot and was picked up in a minivan driven by the third co-conspirator.
Deputy Attorney General Debra Conrad, Senior Counsel of the Specialized Crimes Bureau, and Deputy Attorney General Danielle Scarduzio presented the indictment to the state grand jury for the Division of Criminal Justice, under the supervision of Deputy Bureau Chief Jacqueline Smith and Deputy Director Jill S. Mayer.
Detective Roberto Delgado, Detective John Mendelsohn, Detective Chris Derosa and Detective Joao Rebelo investigated the case for the Millburn Police Department under the supervision of Lt. Dave Bonney. Detective Sgt. Jarek Pyrzanowski assisted with the investigation for the Division of Criminal Justice as a member of the State Police Auto Theft Task Force. Detective Sgt. Michael Van Lenten of the State Police Crime Scene Investigations Bureau assisted in the investigation. Attorney General Grewal commended all of the investigators, as well as the agencies that apprehended Anthony: the State Police Fugitive Unit, Millburn Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service NY/NJ Regional Task Force and State Police Auto Theft Task Force.
The first-degree carjacking charges carry a sentence of 10 to 30 years in state prison and a fine of up to $200,000. The other first-degree charges carry a sentence of 10 to 20 years in state prison and a fine of up to $200,000. The charges of carjacking and robbery carry a mandatory minimum period of parole ineligibility equal to 85 percent of the sentence imposed. 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 kidnapping charge carries a period of parole ineligibility equal to 85 percent of the sentence imposed. 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 defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The indictment was handed to Superior Court Judge Mary C. Jacobson in Mercer County, who assigned the case to Essex County, where Anthony will be ordered to appear in court at a later date for arraignment.
Defense Attorney: Undetermined.
Follow the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office online at Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flicker & YouTube. The social media links provided are for reference only. The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office does not endorse any non-governmental websites, companies or applications.
#### |
