Arrest ends 22-month multistate investigation into violent jewelry store heist, officials say.
MAYWOOD, NJ – A fugitive wanted in connection with a 2024 armed robbery at a Maywood jewelry store has been captured in New York City, bringing an extensive 22-month investigation to a close, according to Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella.
Key Points
- Cristian Ricardo Vera Castillo, 26, of Brooklyn, was arrested February 24, 2026, in New York City.
- The capture follows a two-year investigation into an armed robbery at a Maywood jewelry store in April 2024.
- Six suspects have now been charged in the case, with several already in custody in Bergen County.
Authorities said Vera Castillo was taken into custody by members of the New York City Police Department and is being held pending extradition to New Jersey. He was the final suspect sought in the April 23, 2024, robbery, during which two armed men entered a jewelry store on West Pleasant Avenue, pointed firearms at an employee and customer, and attempted to restrain them before fleeing the scene.
Investigation spanned multiple states and agencies
The arrest is the latest result of a joint investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Maywood Police Department, assisted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Investigators determined that multiple suspects played roles in planning and executing the heist, using mopeds and a getaway vehicle to escape.
Between June and October 2024, detectives located and arrested four suspects: Beiker A. Aguilera Areyan, Daniel A. Rivas-Alvarado, Yeison J. Amarante Bolivar, and Jhon C. Requena Yerena. In November 2025, another suspect, Daiker Yair Rivero Urbano, was captured in Detroit and extradited to Bergen County, where he remains in custody.
Vera Castillo’s capture closes long-running case
Prosecutor Musella credited investigators for their persistence in tracking down Vera Castillo after initial efforts failed. His arrest in Brooklyn concludes a nearly two-year effort that spanned several states and involved multiple law enforcement agencies.
Vera Castillo will face extradition proceedings in New York before being returned to New Jersey to face charges related to the armed robbery and conspiracy.
Tags: Maywood, Bergen County, armed robbery