ARRESTS MADE IN FORT LEE KIDNAPPING LEAD BY POPULAR INSTAGRAM INFLUENCER “JAY MAZINI”

photo of “JAY MAZINI”

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Fort Lee NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of JEBARA IGBARA, aka “JAY MAZINI” (DOB: 05/27/1985; married; unemployed) of 100 Alexander Way, Edgewater, New Jersey; ISHIMEER ALLEN (DOB: 11/11/1998; single; unemployed) of 61-69 Park Avenue, Paterson, New Jersey; ALAZIZ DALMIDA (DOB: 11/08/1999; single; unemployed) of 859 South 14th Street, Newark, New Jersey; and RAMI ALJIBAWI (DOB: 11/09/1983; married; sales associate) of 14-16 Graham Place, Clifton, New Jersey on charges related to a kidnapping and assault in Fort Lee, New Jersey. The arrests are the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti and the Fort Lee Police Department under the direction of Chief Matthew J. Hintze.

During the month of March, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad and the Fort Lee Police Department began a joint investigation into a kidnapping and assault that occurred in Fort Lee. The investigation revealed that JEBARA IGBARA aka JAY MAZINI coordinated a plan to kidnap and assault the victim. IGBARA conspired with co-defendants ALLEN, DALMIDA, and ALJIBAWI to assist in the commission of the crime. During the kidnapping incident, the victim was physically assaulted, threatened with a machete and whipped with a cord- like object.

On March 17, 2021, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, the Bergen County Regional SWAT Team, and the Fort Lee Police Department executed a search warrant for IGBARA’s residences and vehicle, and JEBARA IGBARA was placed under arrest.

On April 14, 2021, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, the Fort Lee Police Department, the Clifton Police Department, and the Passaic County SWAT Team executed search and arrest warrants for ISHIMEER ALLEN and RAMI ALJIBAWI. ALJIBAWI was placed under arrest on that day. ALLEN was subsequently located and arrested on April 16, 2021 in Paterson, New Jersey.

On April 23, 2021, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, the Fort Lee Police Department and the Newark Police Department Fugitive Warrants Squad located and arrested ALAZIZ DALMIDA at his residence.

JEBARA IGBARA was charged with one count of Kidnapping, in violation of N.J.S.A, 2C:13-1b, a 1st degree crime; one count of Aggravated Assault, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b, a 2nd degree crime; one count of Luring/Enticing, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:13-7A, a 3rd degree crime; one count of Aggravated Assault, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1.2(a), a 3rd degree crime; one count of Terroristic Threats, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C: 12-3(a), a 3rd degree crime; one count of Criminal Coercion, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:13-5a(1), a 3rd degree crime; and one count of Possession Of A Weapon For Unlawful Purpose, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4d, a 3rd degree crime.

ALLEN, ALJIBAWI, AND DALMIDA were each charged with one count of Kidnapping, in violation of N.J.S.A, 2C:13-1b(2), a 1st degree crime; one count of Conspiracy To Commit Kidnapping, in violation of N.J.S.A, 2C: 5-2a(1) / 2C:13-1b(2), a 2nd degree crime; one count of Aggravated Assault, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b), a 2nd degree crime; one count of Possession Of A Weapon For Unlawful Purpose, in violation of N.J.S.A, 2C:39-4d, a 3rd degree crime; one count of Criminal Coercion, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:13-5a(1), a 3rd degree crime; and one count of Unlawful Possession Of A Weapon, in violation of N.J.S.A, 2C:39-5d, a 4th degree crime.

ALJIBAWI was also charged with one count of Financial Facilitation Of Criminal Activity, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-25a, a 3rd degree crime.

All suspects were lodged into the Bergen County Jail pending court appearances. IGBARA and ALJIBAWI were subsequently detained pending disposition of the criminal complaints.

Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Prosecutor Musella would like to thank the Clifton Police Department, Passaic County Sheriff’s Department, Fort Lee Police Department, and the Newark Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.