A Newark, New Jersey, man dressed in a Passaic County Sheriff’s uniform to storm a Paterson home in a violent, premeditated robbery, threatening to kill the residents and physically restraining one victim, federal prosecutors revealed today. Clemente R. Carlos, 29, admitted his role in the August 12, 2015, invasion, pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery in federal court.
Carlos, alongside accomplice Jason Thompson, 33, of Paterson, and a third individual, orchestrated the home invasion after learning a resident stored cash from a distribution business at the property. Disguised as law enforcement, the two men used the authority of their uniforms to gain access, while the third suspect waited outside in a getaway vehicle, primed for escape.
Inside the home, one conspirator smashed open furniture searching for cash. The intruders issued death threats, demanding compliance. Carlos admitted in court that he physically restrained one of the victims during the terror-filled operation, a tactic meant to paralyze the family with fear while they ransacked the residence.
The charge of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery carries a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi in Newark accepted the guilty plea, with sentencing scheduled for April 4, 2017.
Thompson was separately charged by complaint on July 21, 2016, with Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Those allegations remain unproven, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Authorities have not yet disclosed the status of the third individual involved.
The FBI’s Newark field office, under Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher, led the investigation, working in tandem with the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, directed by Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes. The Passaic County Sheriff’s Office and Paterson Police Department provided critical support. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Hafetz of the Organized Crime/Gangs Unit. Carlos is represented by Gary Cutler, Esq., of Newark.
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Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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