Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on May 5, 2021, Elioenai Aguinaga, 32, of Lakewood, was sentenced by the Honorable Rochelle Gizinski, J.S.C., to eight years New Jersey State Prison as a result of a previously entered guilty plea to Robbery in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(2). This sentence is subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act, N.J.S.A. 2C:43-7.2, meaning that Aguinaga will be required to serve at least 85 percent of his prison sentence before he may be considered for parole eligibility. Aguinaga pled guilty to the charge before Judge Gizinski on January 27, 2021.
On March 26, 2020, Officers of the Lakewood Township Police Department were summoned to Taylor’s Pharmacy on Madison Avenue for a report of a robbery. Responding Officers learned that a male suspect had entered the pharmacy, brandished a semi-automatic handgun at the store clerk, and demanded money from the cash register. The suspect took approximately $130 and fled the pharmacy.
A subsequent investigation by the Lakewood Township Police Department Detective Bureau ultimately determined that Aguinaga was, in fact, the individual who committed the robbery at Taylor’s Pharmacy on March 26th. On April 25, 2020, Aguinaga was arrested by Officers from the Lakewood Township Police Department. He has been lodged in the Ocean County Jail since the date of his apprehension.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the efforts of Assistant Prosecutor Kaitlyn Burke who handled the case on behalf of the State, as well as the diligence and resolve exhibited by Officers of the Lakewood Township Police Department and Detective Bureau in their investigation of this matter which resulted in Aguinaga’s guilty plea, and ultimately the lengthy state prison sentence imposed today.