El fiscal del condado de Ocean, Bradley D.. Billhimer anunció que en mayo 23, 2025, Vongvichit Vatthanavong, 50, of Brooklyn, Nueva York, pled guilty to Robbery before the Honorable Kenneth T. Palmero, J.S.C., in connection with an incident that occurred in Brick Township on January 5, 2023. En el momento de su sentencia de julio 18, 2025, the State will be seeking a term of twelve and one-half years New Jersey State Prison subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act.
En enero 5, 2023, aproximadamente a 12:20 soy., Officers from the Brick Township Police Department responded to a residence on Pershing Avenue for a report of a robbery. Investigation revealed that as the victim homeowner was exiting his vehicle and entering his residence, he was approached by three masked individuals – one of them armed with what appeared to be a handgun. One of the suspects struck the victim in the head, knocking him to the ground. The three suspects then stole approximately $3,000 en moneda de estados unidos, a watch, and a cellular phone from the victim before fleeing the scene.
Continuing investigation over the course of the next year by the Brick Township Police Department Detective Bureau resulted in Vatthanavong being identified as one of the individuals responsible for the robbery. He voluntarily appeared at Brick Township Police Headquarters for questioning on February 7, 2024; on that date, Vatthanavong was taken into custody at Brick Township Police Headquarters and charged accordingly. Fue transportado a la cárcel del condado de Ocean., where he has been detained since that date. The other two suspects in the robbery have yet to be identified.
El Fiscal Billhimer reconoce los esfuerzos diligentes del Fiscal Adjunto Stephen Burke, quien lleva el caso en nombre del Estado., and commends the Brick Township Police Department, Oficina de detectives del Departamento de Policía de Brick Township, Equipo contra delitos de alta tecnología de la Oficina del Fiscal del Condado de Ocean, y la Oficina de Ciencias Forenses de la Policía Estatal de Nueva Jersey, for their combined and cooperative efforts in connection with this investigation leading to Vatthanavong’s guilty plea – y pronto su larga sentencia estatal de prisión.