A months-long investigation into a violent home invasion in Rochelle Park led to charges against three armed robbery suspects and uncovered an alleged credit card fraud and identity theft scheme involving two occupants of the targeted home.
Rochelle Park, NJ – Three men have been indicted in connection with an armed home invasion in Rochelle Park that sparked a police pursuit and a lengthy investigation, while two additional suspects face fraud-related charges after detectives discovered alleged criminal activity inside the home that was targeted.
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the indictments of Raudel Cangas, 41, of Linden; Kelvin F. Morel, 37, of Fair Lawn; and Miguel Sanchez, 43, of the Bronx, following a joint investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Rochelle Park Police Department.
The investigation also resulted in charges against Marius Fica, 55, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Sorin L. Pavel, 39, of Sunnyside, New York, after detectives uncovered an alleged credit card fraud and identity theft operation at the residence.
Gunfire reported during home invasion
According to prosecutors, Rochelle Park police responded at approximately 3 a.m. on Tuesday, March 10, to a home invasion in progress at a residence on Howard Avenue.
Officers were advised that gunshots had been fired and that residents were actively struggling with armed intruders inside the home. While responding, police spotted a suspicious vehicle later linked to Sanchez fleeing the neighborhood and initiated a pursuit with assistance from surrounding police departments before losing sight of the vehicle.
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad joined the investigation alongside Rochelle Park detectives.
Investigation uncovered alleged fraud scheme
As detectives continued investigating the home invasion, they determined the residence was being used as a short-term rental.
Authorities said two occupants, Fica and Pavel, were allegedly using the property to conduct credit card fraud and identity theft. That discovery led to separate criminal charges unrelated to the home invasion itself.
Investigators ultimately identified Cangas, Morel, and Sanchez as the three suspects allegedly responsible for the armed break-in.
Multiple arrests followed coordinated operation
Cangas and Morel were arrested on April 2 during separate operations involving regional SWAT teams. During a court-authorized search of Cangas’ Linden residence, detectives recovered multiple handguns, ammunition, a rifle, and firearm accessories, prosecutors said.
Sanchez was arrested the same day in the Bronx with assistance from the FBI Violent Threat Initiative and the New York City Police Department before being extradited to New Jersey.
Although Morel was initially released pending court proceedings, prosecutors later successfully sought to reopen his detention hearing based on additional evidence developed during the continuing investigation. A judge subsequently ordered him held in the Bergen County Jail pending further court action.
On June 23, a Bergen County grand jury unsealed an 18-count indictment charging Cangas, Morel, and Sanchez in connection with the armed home invasion. Additional charges against Fica and Pavel remain pending as part of the fraud investigation.
Key Points
- Three men were indicted following an armed home invasion at a Rochelle Park residence where gunshots were reported.
- Detectives later uncovered an alleged credit card fraud and identity theft operation inside the targeted short-term rental.
- The investigation involved the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Rochelle Park Police Department, regional SWAT teams, the FBI, and the NYPD.
Related: Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Rochelle Park, Howard Avenue, Home Invasion, Credit Card Fraud
