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Jamil N. Tuncer |
Jakub P. Lepianka |
Michael A. Rodriguez |
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Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of 24-year-old JAMIL N. TUNCER of Wallington, NJ; 23-year-old JAKUB P. LEPIANKA of Passaic, NJ; and 27-year-old MICHAEL A. RODRIGUEZ of Passaic, NJ on charges stemming from an armed robbery that occurred in East Rutherford, NJ. The charges are the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and the East Rutherford Police Department, under the direction of Chief Dennis Rivelli.
On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at approximately 1:30 a.m., a uniformed officer from the East Rutherford Police Department who was on routine patrol interrupted an armed robbery in progress near the intersection of Paterson Avenue and Clifton Avenue in East Rutherford. As the officer approached the intersection, he heard a woman yelling for help and observed two masked men, both armed, wearing dark-colored clothing. Both suspects immediately fled the scene on foot. It was quickly determined that just prior to law enforcement’s intervention, the female victim was sitting inside her car when the two masked suspects approached, entered the car, and pointed handguns at her. The victim began screaming, exited the car, and attempted to run away. One of the suspects caught up to her, pushed her to the ground, and put his hands over her mouth, instructing her to be quiet.
A short time after the incident, law enforcement spotted and detained an individual matching the description of one of the suspects in close proximity to the crime scene. This suspect, who was ultimately identified as JAMIL N. TUNCER, was taken into custody by the East Rutherford Police Department and subsequently charged in connection with the armed robbery. The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad was notified of the armed robbery, responded to the scene, and initiated a joint investigation with the East Rutherford Police Department.
The two-month investigation revealed that the two suspects, one of whom was JAMIL N. TUNCER, fled on foot in different directions, and that the two armed gunmen had discarded their clothing and firearms after fleeing the scene. Detectives also determined that a third suspect was involved, who acted as the driver of the suspect vehicle, a black-colored Dodge Durango, which dropped off the two gunmen prior to the armed robbery at the intersection.
As a result of the ongoing investigation, JAKUB P. LEPIANKA was identified as the second suspect in the armed robbery, and MICHAEL A. RODRIGUEZ was identified as the third suspect in the armed robbery. On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, following his apprehension by patrol officers, JAMIL N. TUNCER was charged with first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(2); second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1); second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1); second-degree certain persons not to possess a firearm, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-7b(1); fourth-degree resisting arrest by flight, N.J.S.A. 2C:29-2a(2); and fourth-degree aggravated assault by pointing a firearm at another, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(4). TUNCER was remanded to the Bergen County Jail, where he remains in custody pending trial.
On Tuesday, July 15, 2025, JAKUB P. LEPIANKA, who was already in law enforcement custody in New York City on an unrelated matter, was charged with first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(2); second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1); second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1); second-degree certain persons not to possess a firearm, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-7b(1); fourth-degree resisting arrest by flight, N.J.S.A. 2C:29-2a(2); and fourth-degree aggravated assault by pointing a firearm at another, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(4). LEPIANKA was served with the charges and remains in custody in New York, pending extradition to Bergen County, NJ.
On Tuesday, August 26, 2025, MICHAEL A. RODRIGUEZ was charged in connection with this investigation, specifically with first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(2); second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1); second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1); second-degree certain persons not to possess a firearm, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-7b(1); and fourth-degree aggravated assault by pointing a firearm at another, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(4).
On Thursday, September 4, 2025, with the assistance of the Division of Parole of the New Jersey State Parole Board, MICHAEL A. RODRIGUEZ was located and taken into custody without incident by detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and East Rutherford Police Department. RODRIGUEZ was remanded to the Bergen County Jail, pending a detention hearing in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, NJ.
Prosecutor Mark Musella states that all charges in this case are merely accusations, and that all of the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutor Musella thanks the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office for their coordination in this matter. Moreover, Prosecutor Musella thanks and recognizes the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office and the East Rutherford Police Department for their assistance with this investigation. Finally, Prosecutor Musella recognizes the Division of Parole of the New Jersey State Parole Board, Garfield Police Department, New York City Police Department, Passaic Police Department, and the Wallington Police Department for their assistance with the investigation and apprehension of the defendants.
