Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests and indictment of 26-year-old JUAN A. ALMONTE, and 22-year-old JULIAN GUZMAN, both of the Bronx, NY, on charges stemming from an armed robbery. The arrests and indictment are the result of a months-long investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Jeff Angermeyer, and the Fort Lee Police Department, under the direction of Chief Matthew Hintze.
On Friday, January 10, 2025, at approximately 4:05 a.m., the Fort Lee Police Department responded to an armed robbery at a gas station on Route 4 in Fort Lee, NJ. Upon arrival, responding officers determined that the victim, an employee of the business, was approached by a masked suspect who produced a firearm, pointed it at the victim, and demanded money and jewelry. During the robbery, the suspect also physically assaulted the victim before fleeing the scene in a waiting vehicle.
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad was notified, responded to the scene, and initiated a joint investigation with the Fort Lee Police Department. The preliminary investigation revealed that, during the robbery, there were additional masked suspects who were waiting in the nearby getaway vehicle. Detectives later identified the vehicle in question as a gray Acura TLX Type S bearing a stolen temporary registration tag.
During the investigation that followed, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Fort Lee Police Department were ultimately able to identify two of the suspects involved in the armed robbery, namely JUAN A. ALMONTE and JULIAN GUZMAN.
Accordingly, on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, charges were filed against JUAN A. ALMONTE in connection with this investigation. On Wednesday, October 22, 2025, with the assistance of the New York City Police Department (NYPD), ALMONTE was located and arrested without incident in the Bronx, NY. In November 2025, ALMONTE was extradited to New Jersey and lodged in the Bergen County Jail, where he remains detained, pending trial.
On November 10, 2025, JULIAN GUZMAN, who was incarcerated in the State of New York on an unrelated matter, was charged in connection with this investigation. GUZMAN remained in the custody of New York authorities.
On December 10, 2025, a five-count indictment by a Bergen County Grand Jury was unsealed, charging JUAN A. ALMONTE and JULIAN GUZMAN in connection with the armed robbery investigation. ALMONTE and GUZMAN were each indicted on charges of first-degree armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1; second-degree conspiracy to commit armed robbery, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2/N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1a(2); second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b; second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1); and fourth-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(4).
Ultimately, in July 2026, JULIAN GUZMAN was transferred from custody by New York authorities and lodged in the Bergen County Jail where he is currently detained, pending trial.
The investigation into the armed robbery is continuing. Anyone with additional information about the identities of the additional suspects in this investigation may contact the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Tips Line at (201) 226-5532.
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella states that the charges are merely accusations, and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He would like to thank and recognize the Fort Lee Police Department for their ongoing assistance with this case. Additionally, Prosecutor Musella thanks the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office and the NYPD for their coordination and assistance in this investigation.
