Two men, one from Bayonne and one from Jersey City, admitted to a string of armed robberies at gas stations in early 2022, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger announced.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Wendell Bradley Jr., 27, of Bayonne, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, one count of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of attempted carjacking, and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, Sellinger said in a statement.
Joseph Brown, 26, of Jersey City, pleaded guilty on May 9th before Arleo to an information charging him with one count of attempted Hobbs Act robbery and one count of Hobbs Act robbery.
From January 3rd, 2022 until February 4th, 2022, Bradley, either alone or with Brown, would drive to a gas station, pull up to a gas pump, ask the gas station attendant for gas, and, while the tank was being filled, would pull a gun on the attendant and demand money, court documents show.
On January 20th, 2022, in Union, Brown pointed a gun at a gas station attendant, demanded money, and threatened to kill him.
Bradley then grabbed the attendant from behind, but the attendant was able to break free and escape into the gas station before Brown or Bradley could take any money from him.
The spree ended on February 4th, 2022, after Bradley and Brown robbed a gas station attendant at gunpoint in Secaucus. After the robbery, Bradley and Brown fled, and officers chased them from Secaucus to Newark, where Bradley crashed his car.
The criminal complaint indicates that seven gas station robberies occurred: one in North Bergen, three in Jersey City, one in Hillside, one in Union, and one in Secaucus.
The conspiracy, robbery, and attempted robbery charges each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gain or loss from the offenses, whichever is greatest.
The carjacking charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gain or loss from the offenses, whichever is greatest.
Finally, the firearm possession charge carries a mandatory minimum prison sentence of seven years and a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Sentencing for Bradley is scheduled for October 10th, while sentencing for Brown is scheduled for October 3rd.
Sellinger credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as well as the the Clifton, Hillside, Jersey City, Newark, North Bergen, Secaucus, and Union Police Departments, with the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Webman of the Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit in Newark.
