Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of ALBEIRO MELENDEZ-GERARDI (aka CESAR ALEXANDER LOPEZ GARCIA) (DOB: 06/11/1995; unemployed) of 371 7th Avenue, New York, NY; MELVIN OCHOA (DOB: 05/23/2001; unemployed) of 99 Washington Street, New York, NY; CARLOS OLIVERA-NATERA (aka ANNEL NUNEZ) (DOB: 07/31/1995; unemployed) of 4007 Laconia Avenue, Bronx, NY; LUIS PACHECO TOVAR (DOB: 06/12/1995; unemployed) of 4007 Laconia Avenue, Bronx, NY; and VICTOR NOGUERA-LEON (DOB: 01/05/1996; unemployed) of 570 McMurray Drive, Nashville, Tennessee. The arrests are the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office (“BCPO”) under the direction of Acting Chief of Detectives Matthew Finck.
On Tuesday, October 24, 2023, at approximately 3:11 p.m., officers from the Edgewater Police Department responded to a report of an armed robbery on River Road. Officers determined that two suspects approached the victim at a shopping center, brandished a handgun, and stole the victim’s watch while a lookout stood by. The suspects fled the area in separate getaway vehicles that were operated by other men who were waiting nearby. The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad was notified, responded, and initiated a joint investigation, which revealed that the victim was likely followed by the suspects from Hudson County, NJ to Edgewater where the armed robbery took place.
On Friday, November 3, 2023, at approximately 10:05 p.m., officers from the Palisades Park Police Department responded to a report of a stabbing on East Palisades Boulevard. Officers determined that two suspects approached the victim as he parked his car in his driveway, grabbed the victim from behind, held the victim down, and stabbed him. As a lookout stood by, the suspects forcibly removed the victim’s watch while one of the suspects stated that he had a handgun. The suspects fled the area in separate getaway vehicles that were operated by other men who were waiting nearby. The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad initiated a joint investigation, which revealed that the victim was likely followed by the suspects from New York City to Palisades Park where the armed robbery and stabbing took place.
On Thursday, November 9, 2023, at approximately 3:51 p.m., officers from the Edgewater Police Department responded to a report of an armed robbery on River Road. Officers determined that two suspects approached the victim while she exited her parked vehicle at a shopping center and brandished a handgun while a lookout stood by. One suspect covered the victim’s mouth while the other forcefully removed a watch from the victim’s wrist. The suspects fled the area in different getaway vehicles, but a description of one of the suspect vehicles was broadcast by Edgewater Police to nearby law enforcement. A short time later, that suspect vehicle was stopped by officers from the Port Authority Police Department. The driver of the vehicle was identified as CARLOS OLIVERA-NATERA, who was subsequently arrested and charged in connection with the armed robbery that occurred on November 9, 2023, in Edgewater.
A continuing months-long investigation by detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office into all three incidents revealed that CARLOS OLIVERA-NATERA, ALBEIRO MELENDEZ-GERARDI, MELVIN OCHOA, LUIS PACHECO TOVAR, and VICTOR NOGUERA-LEON operated as a group and were each responsible for one or more of the three armed robberies that occurred in Edgewater and Palisades Park, NJ on October 24, November 3, and November 9, 2023.
On Monday, November 27, 2023, with the assistance of the New York City Police Department, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad located and arrested MELVIN OCHOA in New York City. On December 7, 2023, OCHOA was extradited to New Jersey, and on December 27, 2023, pursuant to an order granting pretrial detention, OCHOA was detained in the Bergen County Jail pending disposition of his charges.
On Monday, December 4, 2023, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad located and arrested ALBEIRO MELENDEZ-GERARDI in Florida. On January 4, 2024, MELENDEZ-GERARDI was extradited to New Jersey, and on January 24, 2024, pursuant to an order granting pretrial detention, MELENDEZ-GERARDI was detained in the Bergen County Jail pending disposition of his charges.
On Monday, December 18, 2023, CARLOS OLIVERA-NATERA who was previously arrested in connection with the Edgewater armed robbery on November 9, 2023, had additional charges filed pertaining to the armed robberies that occurred on October 24, 2023, in Edgewater, November 3, 2023, in Palisades Park, and upgraded charges regarding the armed robbery on November 9, 2023, in Edgewater. OLIVERA NATERA is currently detained in the Bergen County Jail pending a motion for pretrial detention currently scheduled for March 6, 2024.
On Tuesday, February 6, 2024, with the assistance of the New York City Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad located and arrested LUIS PACHECO TOVAR in New York City. PACHECO TOVAR is currently detained in New York pending disposition of an unrelated New York criminal matter. Following disposition of his New York criminal matter, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office will seek to have PACHECO TOVAR extradited to New Jersey.
On Tuesday, February 27, 2024, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad located and arrested VICTOR NOGUERA-LEON in Texas. NOGUERA-LEON is currently awaiting extradition to New Jersey.
In relation to the October 24, 2023 armed robbery in Edgewater:
ALBEIRO MELENDEZ-GERARDI and CARLOS OLIVERA-NATERA were each charged with first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(1); second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1); second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1), and fourth-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(4).
MELVIN OCHOA was charged with first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(1); second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1); second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1); third-degree theft of moveable property, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3a; and fourth-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(4).
VICTOR NOGUERA-LEON was charged with first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(1); second-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1)/2C:15-1a; second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1); second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a; third-degree theft of moveable property, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3a; and fourth-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(4).
In relation to the November 3, 2023 armed robbery and stabbing in Palisades Park:
ALBEIRO MELENDEZ-GERARDI, CARLOS OLIVERA-NATERA, and LUIS PACHECO TOVAR were each charged with first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(1); second-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(1); third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4d; third-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(2); and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5d.
In relation to the November 9, 2023 armed robbery in Edgewater:
ALBEIRO MELENDEZ-GERARDI was charged with first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(1); second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1); second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1 and fourth-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(4).
MELVIN OCHOA was charged with first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(1); second-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1)/2C:15-1(a); second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1); second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1); third-degree theft of moveable property, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3a; and fourth-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(4).
CARLOS OLIVERA-NATERA was charged with first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(1); second-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1)/2C:15-1(a); second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1); second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1), and fourth-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(4).
LUIS PACHECO TOVAR was charged with first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(1); second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1); second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1); and fourth-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(4).
In addition, the following charges were also filed:
ALBEIRO MELENDEZ-GERARDI and CARLOS OLIVERA-NATERA were charged with second-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1)/2C:15-1(a); and third-degree aggregate theft of moveable property, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3a; for all three armed robberies.
LUIS PACHECO TOVAR was charged with second-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1)/2C:15-1(a); and third-degree aggregate theft of moveable property, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3a; for the armed robberies that occurred in Palisades Park on November 3, 2023, and Edgewater on November 9, 2023.
Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations, and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutor Musella would like to thank the Edgewater Police Department, Palisades Park Police Department, the Port Authority Police Department, the New York City Police Department, the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their assistance with this lengthy investigation.
