Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests and indictments of 25-year-old RAEKWON KING of the Bronx, NY; and 22-year-old KARNEL MILLER-WRIGHT of the Bronx, NY, on charges stemming from a pattern of multi-jurisdictional armed robberies. The arrests and indictments are the result of months-long investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and with the coordination and assistance of several local police departments from across Bergen County, NJ.
On Monday, August 5, 2024, at approximately 5:00 a.m., the Fort Lee Police Department responded to an armed robbery at a large high-rise apartment complex on Park Avenue in Fort Lee, NJ. Responding officers quickly determined that two men wearing ski masks, one of whom was armed with a firearm, committed an armed robbery of a Fort Lee resident who was returning home to the building. During the course of the robbery, the victim’s jewelry and cash were stolen, and the suspects quickly fled the scene in a silver Mercedes Benz before the arrival of responding officers. The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad was notified and initiated a joint investigation with the Fort Lee Police Department.
On Thursday, September 5, 2024, at approximately 7:15 p.m., the Englewood Police Department responded to an armed robbery at a gas station on Route 4 in Englewood, NJ. Responding officers discovered that two masked men, one armed with a handgun, committed an armed robbery of a customer as he fueled his vehicle. During the robbery, one of the suspects brandished a firearm and demanded the victim turn over his Rolex watch and cash. The suspects fled in a white Mercedes Benz before the arrival of responding officers. The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad was notified and initiated a joint investigation with the Englewood Police Department.
On Thursday, September 12, 2024, at approximately 4:34 a.m., the Hackensack Police Department responded to an armed robbery at a large apartment complex on Kinderkamack Road in Hackensack, NJ. Officers responding to the scene located a victim who had entered the building’s parking garage, having just returned home from New York City, and while exiting his parked vehicle, was confronted by a masked man brandishing a firearm. The suspect demanded his jewelry, but the victim was able to re-enter his vehicle and close the door. The assailant shattered the driver’s window, but the victim was able to drive away and flee to safety. The suspect ran from the parking garage, entered a white Mercedes Benz, and escaped before responding officers arrived. The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad was notified and initiated a joint investigation with the Hackensack Police Department.
On Monday, October 7, 2024, at approximately 7:11 p.m., the Paramus Police Department responded to an armed robbery at a private residence on Burnett Place in Paramus, NJ. Responding officers learned that the victim had just returned home from New York City and parked his vehicle when a masked man brandishing a firearm approached him and demanded his wallet, keys, and watch. The victim screamed for help, at which point the armed suspect fled on foot to a waiting getaway car. Once again, the suspects escaped before the police response. The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad was notified and initiated a joint investigation with the Paramus Police Department.
During the interconnected, multi-jurisdictional investigation that followed, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad, Englewood Police Department, Fort Lee Police Department, Hackensack Police Department, and Paramus Police Department were able to identify RAEKWON KING and KARNEL MILLER-WRIGHT as the masked assailants who committed the pattern of armed robberies throughout Bergen County, NJ.
On Tuesday, October 8, 2024, as a result of the investigation and preliminary charges filed in this matter, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (“FBI”) – Safe Streets Task Force and Federal Probation & Pre-Trial Services officers, located and arrested KARNEL MILLER-WRIGHT in the Bronx, NY. MILLER-WRIGHT was detained at the Westchester County Department of Corrections before being extradited to Bergen County, NJ, on October 17, 2024. MILLER-WRIGHT is currently detained at the Bergen County Jail pending trial in this matter.
On Monday, October 14, 2024, members of the FBI – Safe Streets Task Force and the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”) located RAEKWON KING at a motel in the Bronx, NY. While attempting to apprehend him, KING leapt from a motel window and fled on foot. After a brief foot chase, KING was apprehended without further incident and placed in the custody of the New York City Department of Corrections – Rikers Island Jail, pending extradition to Bergen County, NJ.
On March 25, 2025, a Bergen County Grand Jury voted to indict RAEKWON KING on three counts of first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(1); four counts of second-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2; three counts of second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1); three counts of second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1); and three counts of fourth-degree aggravated assault by pointing a firearm, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(4).
Furthermore, the Grand Jury also voted to indict KARNEL MILLER-WRIGHT on three counts of first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(1); four counts of second-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2; three counts of second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1); three counts of second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1); and three counts of fourth-degree aggravated assault by pointing a firearm, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(4).
Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations and that both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutor Musella thanks and recognizes the Englewood Police Department, Fort Lee Police Department, Hackensack Police Department, and Paramus Police Department for their individual and collective assistance with this investigation. Additionally, Prosecutor Musella thanks the FBI- Safe Streets Task Force (Westchester County, NY) and the NYPD for their assistance and partnership throughout this case.