SIX MEMBERS OF JAMES BOND GANG CREW CHARGED IN 34 RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES IN BERGEN COUNTY

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Hackensack NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of LAWAL ERSKINE (DOB: 02/22/1984; single; unemployed) of 144 South Harrison Street, Apt. 404, East Orange, NJ: JIHAAD HOLMES (DOB: 01/06/1995; single; unemployed) of 144 South Harrison Street, Apt. 608, East Orange, NJ; MARC RAINEY (DOB: 06/30/1987; single; unemployed) of 137 Berry Street, Apt. 2, Hackensack, NJ; RASHAD BLACK (DOB: 12/29/1986; single; unemployed) of 242 High Street, Hackensack, NJ; TYRONE JENKINS (DOB: 09/09/1994; single; unemployed) of 253 Port Avenue, Elizabeth, NJ; and JAVON BARLOW (DOB: 09/23/1986; single; unemployed) of 445 Park Street, Hackensack, NJ on Burglary and Theft related charges. The arrests are the result of a nine-month investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti.

From December 2019 through August 2020, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigation Squad investigated a series of “James Bond”-style residential burglaries in and throughout New Jersey, specifically in Bergen County, Essex, Union, Somerset, Middlesex, and Monmouth Counties, which appeared to share the same modus operandi. The burglars targeted residential homes in affluent areas, often on or near dead end or cul-de-sac streets. The homes appeared to be targeted because of their size or the presence of expensive vehicles in the driveway. The burglaries occurred during the early evening hours when the homes were not well lit and it appeared that the homeowners were not present. The individuals were able to enter the homes by covering a Ring camera then forcing open the front door. Once inside, they would remove safes, jewelry, and cash from the master bedroom.

As a result of the investigation, MARC RAINEY, LAWAL ERSKINE, JIHAAD HOLMES, RASHAD BLACK, JAVON BARLOW, and TYRONE JENKINS were identified as primary suspects in at least 34 residential burglaries in Bergen County and throughout the State of New Jersey, stealing more than $450,000 worth of cash and jewelry. The investigation is ongoing.

On Thursday, September 3, 2020, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, along with a task force comprised of local Bergen, Somerset, Middlesex, and Essex County law enforcement agencies, executed numerous court authorized search warrants on residences and vehicles located in Hackensack, Elmwood Park and East Orange.

JIHAAD HOLMES was charged with Possession With Intent To Distribute A Controlled Dangerous (“CDS”), namely Cocaine, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5(a)(1), a 1st degree crime; Promotion Of Organized Street Crime, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:33-30(a), a 2nd degree crime; Conspiracy To Commit Theft, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3/2C:5-2, a 2nd degree crime; Conspiracy To Commit Financial Facilitation Of Criminal Activity, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-25(a)/2C:5-2, a 2nd degree crime; two counts of Possession Of A Firearm While Committing A CDS Offense, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4.1(a), a 2nd degree crime; Conspiracy To Commit Burglary, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2/2C:5-2, a 3rd degree crime; four counts of Burglary, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2/2C:2-6, a 3rd degree crime; four counts of Burglary, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2, a 3rd degree crime; three counts of Theft, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3, a 3rd degree crime; Possession Of CDS, namely Cocaine, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10(a)(1), a 3rd degree crime; Possession Of CDS, namely Heroin, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10(a)(1), a 3rd degree crime; Possession Of CDS, namely Promethazine Syrup; in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10(a)(1), a 3rd degree crime; Possession With Intent To Distribute CDS, namely Marijuana, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5(a)(1), a 3rd degree crime; Possession With Intent To Distribute CDS, namely Heroin, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5(a)(1), a 3rd degree crime; Possession With Intent To Distribute CDS, namely Promethazine Syrup, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5(a)(1), a 3rd degree crime; Criminal Mischief, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:17-3(b)(1), a 3rd degree crime; Criminal Mischief, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:17-3(b)(2), a 4th degree crime; Possession Of CDS, namely Marijuana, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10(a)(3), a 4th degree crime; two counts of Possession Of An Extended Magazine Holding More Than 10 Rounds, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3(j), a 4th degree crime; Possession Of 13 Hollow Point Rounds, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3(f)(1), a 4th degree crime; two counts of Possession Of A Firearm Without A Permit, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-10(a)(1), a 4th degree crime; and two counts of Criminal Mischief, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:17-3(b)(2), a disorderly persons offense. He was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a detention hearing in Hackensack.

MARC RAINEY was charged with Promotion of Organized Street Crime, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:33-30(a), a 2nd degree crime; Conspiracy To Commit Theft, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a/2C:20-3; a 2nd degree crime; Financial Facilitation Of Criminal Activity, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-25(a)/2C:5-2a, a 2nd degree crime; Conspiracy To Commit Burglary, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2/2C:5-2; a 3rd degree crime; two counts of Burglary, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2, a 3rd degree crime; two counts of Burglary, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2/2C:2-6, a 3rd degree crime; two counts of Theft, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3, a 3rd degree crime; and Attempted Burglary, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2/2C:5-1/2C:2-6, a 3rd degree crime. He was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a detention hearing in Hackensack.

LAWAL ERSKINE was charged with Promotion Of Organized Street Crime, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:33-30(a), a 2nd degree crime; Conspiracy To Commit Theft, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3/2C:5-2, a 2nd degree crime; Conspiracy To Commit Financial Facilitation Of Criminal Activity, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-25(a)/2C:5-2, a 2nd degree crime; Conspiracy To Commit Burglary, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2/2C:5-2, a 3rd degree crime; three counts of Burglary, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2/2C:2-6, a 3rd degree crime; four counts of Burglary, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2, a 3rd degree crime; three counts of Theft, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3, a 3rd degree crime; Criminal Mischief, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:17-3(b)(1), a 3rd degree crime; Criminal Mischief, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:17-3(b)(2), a 4th degree crime; and two counts of Criminal Mischief, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:17-3(b)(2), a disorderly persons offense. He was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a detention hearing in Hackensack.

TYRONE JENKINS was charged with four counts of Burglary, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2, a 3rd degree crime; three counts of Theft, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3, a 3rd degree crime; one count of Criminal Mischief, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:17-3(b)(1), a 3rd degree crime; one count of Criminal Mischief, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:17-3(b)(2), a 4th degree crime; and two counts of Criminal Mischief, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:17-3(b)(2), a disorderly persons offense. He was remanded to the Somerset County Jail pending his first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court.

RASHAD BLACK was charged with one count of Burglary, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2(a)(1), a 3rd degree crime; and one count of Theft, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3, a 3rd degree crime. He was remanded to the Middlesex County Jail pending his first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court.

JAVON BARLOW was charged with one count of Burglary, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2(a)(1), a 3rd degree crime; and one count of Theft, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3, a 3rd degree crime. BARLOW is in custody at Southern State Prison.

Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely allegations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He would like to thank the following law enforcement agencies for their assistance in this investigation: Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, Essex County Sheriff’s Office, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, New Jersey State Parole, Berkeley Heights Police Department, Tenafly Police Department, Hackensack Police Department, Saddle River Police Department, Englewood Cliffs Police Department, and the Edison Police Department.