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Fugitive wanted for jewelry store robbery arrested in NYC
A fugitive wanted in connection with a 2024 armed jewelry store robbery in Maywood has been arrested in New York City, authorities said.
Cristian Ricardo Vera Castillo, of Brooklyn, was taken into custody on Tuesday by the New York City Police Department. He is being held pending extradition to New Jersey, officials said.
Vera Castillo, 26, was wanted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Maywood Police Department in connection with an armed robbery at a jewelry store on West Pleasant Avenue in Maywood in April 2024.
Authorities said two men entered the store, brandished firearms and pointed them at an employee and a customer. One suspect grabbed the employee, leading to a brief struggle. The suspects fled, leaving behind duct tape and zip ties.
An investigation determined that multiple suspects were involved in planning and carrying out the robbery, using two mopeds and a vehicle to travel to and from the scene, prosecutors said.
Five other men were previously arrested and charged in the case.
Prosecutors said the investigation spanned 22 months and involved assistance from multiple federal, state and local agencies.