NEW YORK DUO CHARGED IN BERGEN CRIME SPREE

NEW YORK DUO CHARGED WITH ARMED ROBBERY, CONSPIRACY, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, CRIMINAL RESTRAINT, POSSESSION OF A WEAPON, THEFT, TERRORISTIC THREATS, AND SIMPLE ASSAULT

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Fort Lee NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of RICKY QUEZADA (DOB: 07/12/1996; single; unemployed) of 306 West 112 Street, Apt 6C, New York, NY; and ASBIEL FELIZ (DOB: 01/21/1997; single; unemployed) of 24 Tecumseh Ave, Apt. 3, Mount Vernon, NY on charges of Armed Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Conspiracy, Possession of a Weapon, Theft, and Simple Assault. The arrests are the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti, the Elmwood Park Police Department under the direction of Chief Michael Foligno, the Ridgefield Police Department under the direction of Chief Thomas J. Gallagher, the Fort Lee Police Department under the direction of Chief Mathew J. Hintze, and the Clifton Police Department under the direction of Chief Tom Rinaldi.

On October 9, 2020, in the City of Clifton, an armed robbery with a handgun was committed. The victim had placed an Internet posting on a website called “Offer Up” to sell an Xbox. The victim was thereafter in communication with the suspects, via Offer Up and Snapchat. Shortly thereafter, two Hispanic males arrived in an older model Nissan to meet with the victim. As the front passenger was seated inside his vehicle speaking to the victim, the driver exited the vehicle with a black semi-automatic handgun, pointing it at the victim and assaulting him. The suspects then stole the victim’s Xbox and fled in the vehicle.

On October 29, 2020, in the Borough of Elmwood Park, an armed robbery occurred at the Delta gas station located at 68 Route 46 East. An Hispanic male entered the gas station requesting change, at which time a second Hispanic male entered the store pulling out a large knife, holding it to the gas attendant’s neck. Both suspects then forcefully took approximately $1,000 and fled in an older model Nissan.

Approximately one hour later, on October 29, 2020, in the Borough of Ridgefield, police officers responded to a similar armed robbery at the US gas station located at 1098 Route 46 East. The victim reported that two Hispanic males entered the store, pulled out a large knife, held it to the victim’s neck and ordered him to open the cash register. Both suspects gained entry behind the counter and assaulted the victim with multiple punches to his head and face. The victim was forced to open the cash register while the suspects removed all the cash. They then proceeded to steal the victim’s cell phone, lottery tickets, cigarettes and other various items before striking the victim once again and fleeing eastbound onto Route 46. Subsequent review of video surveillance revealed that the suspects arrived in an older model Nissan with an unknown New York registration.

On October 30, 2020, in the Borough of Fort Lee another armed robbery with a knife occurred at the Exxon gas station located at 2338 Route 4 West. An older model Nissan with an unknown New York registration pulled into the gas station parking lot. Two Hispanic males entered the store and approached the store clerk. One male suspect threw hot coffee in the clerk’s face to distract him while the other male approached the clerk behind the counter. The second male brandished a large knife and threatened the victim by jabbing it towards his neck. The suspects proceeded to take all the U.S. currency from the cash register, along with cigarettes and other various items. Both suspects fled the gas station in the Nissan.

As a result of the investigation, law enforcement officers identified RICKY QUEZADA and ASBIEL FELIZ as the prime suspects.

On Tuesday, November 3, 2020, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad, along with members of the Fort Lee Police Department located the Nissan utilized in the robberies at 103rd Street in New York City. Surveillance was set up on the vehicle at the aforementioned location. Moments later, Detectives observed QUEZADA walking towards his vehicle, at which time he was taken into custody without incident. QUEZADA was then transported to the New York City Central Park Precinct where he was processed accordingly. Upon completion of processing, he was then transported to the Manhattan Detention Center where he is awaiting extradition to New Jersey.

On Thursday, November 5, 2020, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad, members of the Fort Lee Police Department and members of the Mount Vernon, NY Police Department responded to 24 Tecumseh Avenue, Apartment 3, Mount Vernon, NY, to locate and apprehend FELIZ. Upon arrival, FELIZ was taken into custody without incident. FELIZ was then transported to the Mount Vernon Police Department where he was processed accordingly. Upon completion of processing, he was then transported to the Westchester County Jail in New York where he is awaiting extradition to New Jersey.

QUEZADA and FELIZ were charged with the following crimes:

For the Clifton armed robbery on October 9, 2020, QUEZADA and FELIZ were both charged with one count each of Armed Robbery, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(1), a 1st degree crime; Possession Of A Weapon For An Unlawful Purpose, namely a Firearm, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1), a 2nd degree crime; and Unlawful Possession Of A Weapon, namely a Firearm, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1), a 2nd degree crime.

For the Elmwood Park armed robbery on October 29, 2020, QUEZADA was charged with one count each of Armed Robbery, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(2), a 1st degree crime; Possession Of A Weapon For An Unlawful Purpose, namely a Knife, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4d, a 3rd degree crime; Terroristic Threats; in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-3b, a 3rd degree crime; and Unlawful Possession Of A Weapon, namely a Knife, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5d, a 4th degree crime. FELIZ was charged with one count each of Armed Robbery, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(2), a 1st degree crime; and Simple Assault, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1a(1), a disorderly persons offense.

For the Ridgefield armed robbery on October 29, 2020, QUEZADA was charged with one count each of Armed Robbery, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(2), a 1st degree crime; Theft By Extortion, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-5a, a 2nd degree crime; Aggravated Assault With A Deadly Weapon, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(2), a 3rd degree crime; and Possession Of A Weapon For An Unlawful Purpose, namely a Knife, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4d, a 3rd degree crime. FELIZ was charged with one count each of Armed Robbery, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(2), a 1st degree crime; Theft By Extortion, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-5a, a 2nd degree crime; and Aggravated Assault With A Deadly Weapon, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(2), a 3rd degree crime.

For the Fort Lee armed robbery on October 30, 2020, QUEZADA was charged with one count each of Armed Robbery, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(1), a 1st degree crime; Aggravated Assault, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(1), a 2nd degree crime; Aggravated Assault, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(7), a 3rd degree crime; Criminal Restraint, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:13-2a, a 3rd degree crime; Possession Of A Weapon For An Unlawful Purpose, namely a Knife, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4d, a 3rd degree crime, Theft, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3a, a 3rd degree crime; Unlawful Possession Of A Weapon, namely a Knife, contrary to N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5d, a 4th degree crime; and Simple Assault, violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1a(1), a disorderly persons offense. FELIZ was charged with one count each of Armed Robbery, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(1), a 1st degree crime; Conspiracy To Commit Aggravated Assault, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(2)/2C:12-1b(1), a 2nd degree crime; Aggravated Assault, in violation of N.J.S.A.42C:5-2a(2)/2C:12-1b(7), a 3rd degree crime; Criminal Restraint, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:13-2a, a 3rd degree crime; Theft, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3a, a 3rd degree crime; and Simple Assault, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1a(1), a disorderly persons offense.

“We are committed to ensuring that Bergen County is safe for everyone, and we will aggressively investigate and prosecute all armed robbery related crimes that occur in our county,” said Prosecutor Musella.

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. He would like to thank the Elmwood Park Police Department, the Ridgefield Police Department, the Fort Lee Police Department, the Clifton Police Department, the New York City Police Department, and the Mount Vernon, New York Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.