Two teenagers and a Lodi woman have been charged after authorities say a planned gaming computer sale turned into an armed robbery that ended with a victim being threatened at gunpoint.
Three people have been charged in connection with an armed robbery that occurred during an online marketplace transaction in Lodi, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced.
The charges stem from a March 17 incident in which a victim arranged through social media to sell a gaming computer before being robbed by two juvenile suspects near Church Street and Boyd Street.
Victim robbed during social media meetup
According to investigators, Lodi police responded at approximately 11:41 p.m. to reports of an armed robbery that had just occurred in the area.
Authorities said the victim was sitting inside a vehicle while meeting prospective buyers for the gaming computer. Two suspects approached and began speaking with the victim before one of them allegedly opened the rear driver’s-side door and removed the computer.
When the victim exited the vehicle, the second suspect allegedly pointed a firearm at the victim.
“As the victim was sitting in their vehicle, two suspects approached and began conversing with the victim,” prosecutors said. “A short time later, one suspect opened the rear driver-side door of the vehicle and removed the computer.”
“The victim then exited the vehicle, at which point the other suspect brandished a firearm, pointing it at the victim,” the prosecutor’s office added.
The suspects fled on foot with the computer before police were notified.
Detectives identify juvenile suspects
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad joined the Lodi Police Department in investigating the robbery and eventually identified two 17-year-old males as the suspects.
One juvenile was taken into custody on April 21 and charged with first-degree armed robbery, weapons offenses, and burglary-related charges. He was transported to the Bergen County Juvenile Detention Center before later being released to a parent.
The second juvenile was arrested June 11 by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and Lodi Police Department.
Handgun, ammunition magazines recovered
During a court-authorized search of the second juvenile’s residence, detectives recovered a handgun and two large-capacity ammunition magazines, according to prosecutors.
The teen was charged with armed robbery, multiple weapons offenses, burglary, aggravated assault by pointing a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm by a minor, and two counts of possession of a large-capacity ammunition magazine.
Authorities said he remains held at the Bergen County Juvenile Detention Center pending further court proceedings.
Lodi woman accused of helping suspect avoid arrest
Investigators also charged 39-year-old Maria Montoya of Lodi after determining she allegedly assisted one of the suspects following the robbery.
“The investigation also revealed that MARIA MONTOYA hindered the apprehension of the suspects by providing transportation, and other means of avoiding apprehension, to one of the suspects,” prosecutors said.
Montoya was arrested June 15 and charged with fourth-degree hindering the apprehension of another. She was released pending a future court appearance.
Prosecutors noted that all charges are accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Key Points
• Two 17-year-old males were charged in connection with an armed robbery during a gaming computer sale in Lodi.
• Authorities say one suspect pointed a handgun at the victim while the other stole the computer.
• A Lodi woman, Maria Montoya, was charged with hindering apprehension after allegedly helping one suspect avoid arrest.
