Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 46-year-old FARHA F. SHARIF of Newark, NJ; and additional charges brought against 22-year-old ALTAMIR L. THORNTON of Newark, NJ; and 22-year-old RAHIEM A. MALDONADO of Newark, NJ in connection with an armed robbery investigation. The arrest and additional charges are the result of a continuing investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck and the Englewood Police Department under the direction of Chief Thomas Greeley.
As previously reported, on Saturday, August 3, 2024, at approximately 12:11 a.m., masked assailants armed with handguns committed an armed robbery against patrons dining outdoors at a restaurant on Engle Street in Englewood, NJ. The suspects, who initially attempted to steal car keys from the valet area, fled with jewelry and personal items after assaulting one of the victims. During a months-long investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad and the Englewood Police Department, detectives determined that a 2024 BMW X7 stolen during an occupied residential burglary in Monmouth County, NJ was the same vehicle utilized by the suspects to travel to, and flee from, the crime scene in Englewood. Through further investigation, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad and Englewood Police Department identified ALTAMIR L. THORNTON, YASHIR T. PHILLIPS, RAHIEM A. MALDONADO, and two 17-year-old juveniles as the masked assailants who committed the armed robbery and assault in Englewood, NJ. On November 26, 2024, THORNTON, PHILLIPS, and one of the juveniles were located and arrested at separate Newark residences, and multiple handguns were recovered. MALDONADO was later apprehended near his residence on that same date, and all the aforementioned defendants were charged with various offenses for their respective participation in the crime.
Prior to being arrested that day, RAHIEM A. MALDONADO was initially spotted by detectives outside of his residence in a vehicle. When approached, MALDONADO fled on foot from detectives who were trying to take him into custody. The vehicle from which MALDONADO fled was being operated by FARHA F. SHARIF. That vehicle was impounded, and SHARIF was released at the scene, as per procedures. Subsequently, a court-authorized search of the vehicle in question revealed a handgun containing a large capacity magazine and hollow point ammunition.
On Friday, January 10, 2025, as a result of the continuing investigation, additional charges were filed against RAHIEM A. MALDONADO, specifically second-degree possession of a handgun, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1); second-degree certain persons not to have weapons, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-7b(1); third-degree resisting arrest, N.J.S.A. 2C:29-2a(3)b; third-degree hindering, N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3b(1); fourth-degree possession of a large capacity magazine, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3j; and fourth-degree possession of hollow nose bullets, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3f (1). MALDONADO remains detained in the Bergen County Jail, pending trial.
On Friday, January 10, 2025, FARHA F. SHARIF, the driver of the vehicle from which RAHIEM A. MALDONADO fled in November 2024, was arrested by detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad. When detectives initially tried to make contact at her residence, SHARIF also fled and attempted to evade law enforcement by jumping over a fence in the backyard. She was ultimately taken into custody without further incident and charged with second-degree possession of a handgun, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1); fourth-degree resisting arrest, N.J.S.A. 2C:29-2a(2); fourth-degree possession of a large capacity magazine, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3j; and fourth-degree possession of hollow nose bullets, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3f(1). SHARIF was lodged in the Bergen County Jail, where she remains, pending a future court appearance.
Additionally, on Friday, January 10, 2025, as a result of the continuing investigation, which included a review of evidence obtained during court-authorized searches in November 2024, new charges were also filed against ALTAMIR L. THORNTON, specifically two counts of first-degree use of a 17-year-old to commit a criminal offense, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-9(a); third-degree receiving stolen property, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-7a; and fourth-degree possession of a large capacity magazine, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3j. THORNTON remains detained in the Bergen County Jail, pending trial.
Prosecutor Musella states that all charges filed in this matter are merely accusations, and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutor Musella thanks the Englewood Police Department for its assistance throughout this case, as well as the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, Tenafly Police Department, and Paramus Police Department.