Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of FRANCISCO B. VERDUGO, 22, of Upper Saddle River, NJ, who was identified as an additional suspect involved in an armed robbery investigation, which was previously announced on May 21, 2024. This additional arrest is the result of the continuing investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck and the Allendale Police Department under the direction of Chief Michael Dillon.
As previously reported, the Allendale Police Department was summoned to an apartment complex on Monday, March 25, 2024, at approximately 3:48 p.m. Upon arrival, responding officers discovered that an armed robbery occurred, and the assailant fled the scene. The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad was notified and responded. During a two-month investigation that followed, detectives determined the victim was confronted outside of his home by an armed suspect, later identified as JAHAN A. HENDLEY, who produced a handgun and led the victim back inside his apartment. During the robbery, HENDLEY assaulted the victim in the apartment and stole marijuana, approximately $900 in cash, and a bottle of liquor from the residence. While fleeing, HENDLEY pointed his gun at another victim who was unrelated to the incident and in the area of the apartment complex.
As previously announced on May 21, 2024, JAHAN A. HENDLEY, who was already incarcerated at the Bergen County Jail on an unrelated matter, was served with various criminal charges related to this incident. HENDLEY remains in the custody of the Bergen County Jail since his arrest by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and Allendale Police Department.
Subsequently, the investigation into this case continued and detectives ultimately developed information that FRANCISCO B. VERDUGO was an accomplice of JAHAN A. HENDLEY. Specifically, the continuing investigation revealed that VERDUGO drove HENDLEY to and from the armed robbery in Allendale on March 25, 2024. Additionally, detectives determined that VERDUGO attempted to sell proceeds from the armed robbery afterwards.
On Wednesday, September 11, 2024, FRANCISCO B. VERDUGO was arrested in Paramus, NJ and charged with first-degree armed robbery (accomplice liability), N.J.S.A. 2C:2-6a/N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(1); second-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1)/ N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(1); second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1); and second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1).
Prosecutor Musella states that all of the charges in this case are merely accusations, and that both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutor Musella thanks the Allendale Police Department and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance with this investigation.