Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on April 8, 2022, Thomas Jann, 34, of Beachwood, was sentenced by the Honorable Michael T. Collins, J.S.C., to sixteen years New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) as a result of his previously entered guilty pleas to two counts of Robbery in the First Degree in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1. Judge Collins also sentenced Jann to eight years NJSP as a result of his previously entered guilty pleas to four counts of Robbery in the Second Degree in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1. These sentences will be subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act, N.J.S.A. 2C:43-7.2, meaning that Jann will be required to serve at least 85 percent of his prison sentences before he may be considered for parole eligibility. Finally, Judge Collins sentenced Jann to four years NJSP as a result of his previously entered guilty plea to Burglary in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2a (1). The sentences will run concurrently. Jann pled guilty to all charges before Judge Collins on November 16, 2021.
A cooperative investigation between the Toms River Township Police Department, Berkeley Township Police Department, and Beachwood Police Department resulted in Jann being identified as the individual responsible for a string of robberies that occurred in those municipalities in December 2020. Specifically, the investigation revealed that Jann attacked a gas station attendant at the Wawa convenience store on Route 9 in Toms River on December 19, 2020 and stole money from the cash register. On December 24, 2020, Jann entered the Robins convenience store in Beachwood and brandished what appeared to be a box cutter in the direction of the attendant; he then stole money from the cash register and fled the scene. On December 26, 2020, Jann entered the Shoprite supermarket located on Route 9 in Bayville, stole money from the cash register, and pushed a female as he fled the store. That same day, Jann entered the Krauszers convenience store on Hooper Avenue in Toms River, attacked the cashier, and fled with cigarettes. On December 30, 2020, Jann entered the 7-11 convenience store on Route 166 in Toms River, grabbed the cashier around the neck and held a rock to his head; he then stole money from the cash register and fled the scene. On December 31, 2020, Jann entered the Exxon Tiger Mart on Route 37 in Toms River, threw hot coffee at the attendant, and stole money from the cash register.
Through the course of the investigation, Detectives were also able to determine that Jann unlawfully entered a residence in Beachwood on July 27, 2020 and stole cash from the home.
On January 1, 2021, Jann was apprehended by the Officers of the Toms River Township Police Department. He has been lodged in the Ocean County Jail since that date.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Assistant Prosecutor Victoria Veni who handled the case on behalf of the State, as well as the Toms River Township Police Department, Berkeley Township Police Department, Beachwood Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, for their collaborative efforts in connection with this investigation leading to Jann’s apprehension, guilty pleas, and now his state prison sentence.