Ricky “Angel” Vargas
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of JAYSON RIVERA (DOB: 12/25/2000; single; unemployed) of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania; BRYANT SANCHEZ (DOB: 11/29/1997; single; carpenter) of Paterson, NJ; ERONY SANCHEZ (DOB: 04/02/1996; single; unemployed) of Clifton, NJ; and DANTE MOORE (DOB: 08/14/1990; single; retail) of Passaic, NJ on murder charges. RICKY “ANGEL” VARGAS (DOB: 07/18/1988; single; unemployed) of East Stroudsburg, PA was charged with murder and is currently a wanted fugitive from justice. The arrests were the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Acting Chief Matthew Finck and the Garfield Police Department under the direction of Chief Richard M. Uram.
On Sunday, February 4, 2024, at approximately 12:44 a.m., the Garfield Police Department responded to JoJo’s Bar & Grill located at 131 Monroe Street, Garfield, NJ on the report of a stabbing. Upon arrival, responding officers located a 31-year-old male, identified as Richard Franceschi of Hawthorne, NJ with multiple stab wounds to his chest. Franceschi was transported via ambulance to Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, NJ, and pronounced deceased at 1:29 a.m.
The investigation revealed that RICKY “ANGEL” VARGAS, JAYSON RIVERA, BRYANT SANCHEZ, ERONY SANCHEZ, and DANTE MOORE were responsible for physically assaulting and stabbing Franceschi numerous times with a knife. During the incident, RIVERA was in possession of a firearm, and VARGAS was in possession of a knife. Following the assault, the suspects fled the scene to evade law enforcement.
On Thursday, February 22, 2024, BRYANT SANCHEZ, ERONY SANCHEZ, and DANTE MOORE were arrested with assistance from the Bergen County Regional SWAT Team and the New Jersey State Police SWAT Team. BRYANT SANCHEZ was arrested in Ogdensburg, NJ. ERONY SANCHEZ and DANTE MOORE were arrested in Passaic, NJ. All three suspects were charged with first-degree murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3(a)1; and third-degree causing bodily injury and leaving the scene of a crime where the victim was physically helpless, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1.2(a). BRYANT SANCHEZ was additionally charged with second-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(1). DANTE MOORE was additionally charged with third-degree theft, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3a. All three suspects were remanded to the Bergen County Jail and are currently detained.
On Tuesday, March 12, 2024, JAYSON RIVERA was arrested in Garfield, NJ. RIVERA is charged with first-degree murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3(a)1; and third-degree causing bodily injury and leaving the scene of a crime where the victim was physically helpless, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1.2(a). In addition, RIVERA is charged with second-degree possession of firearm for unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:4a(1); and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1). RIVERA was remanded to the Bergen County Jail and is currently awaiting a detention hearing.
RICKY “ANGEL” VARGAS is currently at large and has been charged with first-degree murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3(a)1; and third-degree causing bodily injury and leaving the scene of a crime where the victim was physically helpless, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1.2(a). In addition, VARGAS is charged with third-degree possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 39-4d; and fourth-degree possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 39-5d. VARGAS is considered armed and dangerous. If anyone has any information regarding the whereabouts of RICKY “ANGEL” VARGAS, please contact the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Tips Line at 201-226-5532.
Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He would like to thank the Garfield Police Department, the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, the Bergen County Regional SWAT Team, the New Jersey State Police SWAT Team, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshal Service, the Stroud Area Regional Police Department in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State Police, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Chicago Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.