Five Passaic County Residents Charged with Armed Robbery
NEWARK, N.J. — Five Passaic County residents were charged with the armed robbery of a residence in Saddle Brook, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Jamere Dixon, aka “Rebels,” 23; Jahad Foxworth, aka “Hadie,” 25; Tyra Jones, 24; Jancarlos Rodriguez, aka “M’s,” 23; and Lanasia Smith, aka “Lay,” 24, all of Paterson, New Jersey, are charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and one count of conspiracy to use and carry a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. The defendants appeared on Feb. 28, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa in Newark federal court. Dixon, Foxworth and Rodriguez were detained. Jones and Smith were each released on $100,000 unsecured bond.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In the early morning hours of June 28, 2022, Foxworth, Rodriguez and Dixon entered a residence in Saddle Brook and held two victims at gunpoint. The three defendants stole money, credit cards, and suspected controlled substances, among other items. Prior to the robbery, Smith was a guest at the residence and provided Foxworth, Rodriguez and Dixon with access to the home by leaving the front door unlocked. The investigation revealed that hours before the robbery Smith sent to Rodriguez a picture of a safe located in the residence. After the robbery, the suspects fled in a vehicle driven by Jones. Rodriguez, Jones and Smith were later seen on surveillance footage attempting to use the stolen credit cards at gas stations and a convenience store in Paterson.
The conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and conspiracy to use and carry a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence counts each carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller; the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Acting Sheriff Gary Giardina; the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Chief Matthew Finck, the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan; and the Saddle Brook Police Department, under the direction of Officer in Charge Captain John A. Zotollo Jr.; and with the investigation leading to the charges.
This case is part of the Violent Crime Initiative (VCI), which was formed in 2020 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, and the City of Paterson’s Department of Public Safety for the purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Paterson. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate and pool resources to prosecute violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals, the Paterson Department of Public Safety, the Paterson Police Department, the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office, N.J. State Parole, Passaic County Jail, N.J. State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center, and N.J. Department of Corrections.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jake A. Nasar of the Organized Crime and Gangs Unit and Farhana C. Melo of the OCDETF/Narcotics Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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