Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on October 28, 2024, Jaquel Accoo, 29, of Wall Township, pled guilty to Motor Vehicle Theft and Witness Tampering before the Honorable David M. Fritch, J.S.C., in connection with an incident that occurred in October 2023, in Toms River. At the time of his sentencing on January 3, 2025, the State will be seeking a term of five years New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) as to the Motor Vehicle Theft charge, and five years NJSP as to the Witness Tampering charge. The sentences are to run concurrently.
On October 14, 2023, an individual appeared at Toms River Township Police Headquarters to report the theft of his motor vehicle. An investigation by the Toms River Township Police Detective Bureau determined that Accoo had borrowed the vehicle from the owner, but failed to return the vehicle to the owner in a timely manner. Continuing investigation revealed that the vehicle had, in fact, been sold by the defendant to a third-party in Georgia.
On November 22, 2023, Accoo was charged with the theft of the vehicle. A warrant was issued for Accoo’s arrest, and his name was placed in the National Crime Information Center database. On January 22, 2024, Accoo was taken into custody in Red Bank by the New York/New Jersey United States Marshals Service Regional Fugitive Task Force and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Warrants Division. He was transported to the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing; Accoo was subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
During the course of the investigation, Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office determined that Accoo attempted to bribe another individual in an effort to have that individual give a false statement to law enforcement relative to the investigation.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Assistant Prosecutor Lynn Juan who is handling the case on behalf of the State, and commends the Toms River Township Police Department, Toms River Township Police Department Detective Bureau, the New York/New Jersey United States Marshals Service Regional Fugitive Task Force, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Warrants Division, for their combined efforts in connection with this investigation leading to Accoo’s arrest, guilty pleas, and soon his state prison sentence.