Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on April 14, 2025, Andrew Williams, 45, of Atlantic City, pled guilty to Eluding and Burglary before the Honorable David M. Fritch, J.S.C., in connection with an incident that occurred in Brick Township on December 16, 2021. Additionally, Williams pled guilty to a second count of Burglary in connection with an incident that occurred on October 25, 2021, as well as two counts of Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card in connection with incidents that occurred on December 10, 2021 and December 14, 2021, both in Stafford Township. At the time of his sentencing on June 13, 2025, the State will be seeking a term of ten years New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) as to the Eluding charge, eight years NJSP – subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act – as to the Burglary that occurred on December 16, 2021, five years NJSP as to each Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card charge, and five years NJSP as to the second Burglary charge. The sentences are to run concurrently.
On December 16, 2021, the Brick Township Police Department was alerted by an off-duty Brick Township Police Officer that he observed two individuals in the area of an active car alarm in the parking lot of LA Fitness on Chambers Bridge Road. Responding Officers observed two individuals enter a van and leave the area. Officers attempted to effectuate a motor vehicle stop on the van. The vehicle failed to stop and continued driving recklessly east bound on Route 70. A short time later, the vehicle crashed into another vehicle at the intersection of Burnt Tavern Road and Maple Avenue. Subsequent to the crash, the driver of the van – later identified as Williams – exited the vehicle and attempted to forcibly remove the driver of a nearby vehicle – opening the door and trying to pull the driver from her vehicle. After that attempt was unsuccessful, Williams entered one of the responding police cruisers. Williams was quickly removed from the police vehicle and placed under arrest. Further investigation by responding Officers determined that Williams had committed two vehicle burglaries in the LA Fitness parking lot on December 16, 2021. Williams was subsequently transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he has been lodged since that date.
In an earlier unrelated incident, the Brick Township Police Department was contacted on October 25, 2021 by an individual claiming that his vehicle, while parked in the LA Fitness parking lot on Chambers Bridge Road, had been broken into and that his wallet had been stolen from within the vehicle. A subsequent investigation by the Brick Township Police Department revealed that Williams was responsible for the October 25th vehicle burglary, and he was charged accordingly on November 19, 2021. Williams was served with that charge at the Ocean County Jail – where he had been lodged since the previous date – on December 17, 2021.
In another unrelated incident, the Stafford Township Police Department was contacted on December 14, 2021 by employees of the Best Buy Store on Stafford Park Boulevard for a report of a male having fraudulently used a credit card. Employees recognized the individual from a previous fraudulent transaction that occurred on December 10, 2021. The employees contacted police, but the suspect had already left the store. Further investigation revealed that Williams was the individual responsible for fraudulent use of credit cards in both instances; he was charged accordingly on December 19, 2021, and served with the charges at the Ocean County Jail – where he had been lodged since December 16th.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Burke who is handling the case on behalf of the State, and commends the Brick Township Police Department and Stafford Township Police Department for their combined and collective assistance in connection with these investigations leading to William’s guilty pleas – and soon his state prison sentence.