Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on July 18, 2025, Vongvichit Vatthanavong, 50, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced by the Honorable Kenneth T. Palmer, J.S.C., to twelve and one-half years New Jersey State Prison relative to his previously entered guilty plea to Robbery in connection with an incident that occurred in Brick Township on January 5, 2023. The sentence will be subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act (NERA), meaning that Vatthanavong will be required to serve at least 85 percent of his prison sentence before he may be considered for parole eligibility. Vatthanavong pled guilty to the charge before Judge Palmer on May 23, 2025.
On January 5, 2023, at approximately 12:20 a.m., 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 in United States currency, 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. He was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he has been detained since that date. The other two suspects in the robbery have yet to be identified.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Burke who is handled the case on behalf of the State, and commends the Brick Township Police Department, Brick Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Squad, and New Jersey State Police Office of Forensic Sciences, for their combined and cooperative efforts in connection with this investigation leading to Vatthanavong’s guilty plea, and now his lengthy state prison sentence.