Fort Lee, NJ – Two Bronx men have been charged and indicted following a months-long investigation into an armed robbery at a gas station on Route 4 in Fort Lee, according to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office. Juan A. Almonte, 26, and Julian Guzman, 22, are each facing multiple felony charges and remain detained in the Bergen County Jail pending trial.
Authorities said the robbery occurred at approximately 4:05 a.m. on January 10, when Fort Lee police responded to the business after receiving a report of an armed robbery. Investigators determined that a masked suspect confronted an employee, pointed a handgun at the victim, demanded money and jewelry, and assaulted the worker before fleeing in a waiting vehicle.
Investigation identified two suspects
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad joined the Fort Lee Police Department in investigating the robbery. Detectives determined there were additional masked suspects waiting inside the getaway vehicle, which was later identified as “a gray Acura TLX Type S bearing a stolen temporary registration tag.”
Following months of investigative work, detectives identified Almonte and Guzman as two of the suspects allegedly involved in the robbery. Almonte was charged in October and, with assistance from the New York City Police Department, “was located and arrested without incident in the Bronx, NY.” He was later extradited to New Jersey and has remained in the Bergen County Jail pending trial.
Grand jury returned five-count indictment
Guzman, who was already incarcerated in New York on an unrelated matter, was charged in November while in state custody. Officials said he was transferred to Bergen County in July and is also being held pending trial.
A Bergen County grand jury later returned a five-count indictment charging both men with first-degree armed robbery, second-degree conspiracy to commit armed robbery, second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and fourth-degree aggravated assault.
The investigation remains active as authorities continue working to identify additional suspects believed to have participated in the robbery. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Tips Line at (201) 226-5532.
Prosecutor Mark Musella emphasized that “the charges are merely accusations, and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.” He also thanked the Fort Lee Police Department, the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, and the New York City Police Department for their assistance during the investigation.
