Two Hudson County men pleaded guilty to their roles in a 2019 fatal Fairview armed robbery, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Carlos Burgos, of Jersey City, and Raul Torres, of North Bergen, pled guilty on March 31st to aggravated manslaughter, robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, and weapons charges in connection with the death of David Duque Soto in Fairview on June 29th, 2019, Musella said in a statement.
They are the latest defendants to plead guilty in this multi-defendant case. Last month, a jury convicted David Martinez of felony murder for his role in this shooting, and he is scheduled for sentencing on April 28th.
Additionally, Lexie Burke previously pled guilty to aggravated manslaughter, robbery, and conspiracy to commit robbery with the State recommending a sentence of up to 30 years in New Jersey State Prison.
Torres and Burgos also stand to be sentenced to 30 years in NJSP, subject to the No Early Release Act, as a condition of their plea.
On June 29, 2019, the duo were co-conspirators and principals to a pre-planned armed robbery of Soto at his home, located at 215 4th St. in Fairview. During this armed robbery, Soto was shot and subsequently died of his injuries.
Burgos and Torres admitted to entering the apartment armed with loaded handguns and shooting their weapons at the victim.
The State was represented by Assistant Prosecutors Suzanne Cevasco and Matthew Fitzpatrick, Detective Jakub Glebocki, and Legal Assistant Catherine Fantuzzi, Esq. of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, and Assistant Prosecutor Jaimee Chasmer of the Appellate Section.
Musella thanks Assistant Prosecutors Cevasco, Fitzpatrick, and Chasmer “for their zealous advocacy for the victim and his family and for helping combat gun violence in Bergen County through this verdict.”
He also commends the detectives of the Major Crimes Unit as well as members of the Fairview Police Department and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office “for their skill and professionalism in investigating this matter.”
