Federal Bureau of Investigation - Newark Field Division - Press Release

NEWARK – One of the principal members of the so-called “Route 35 Crew” was named today in a 28-count Superseding Indictment charging him with crimes in connection with 14 robberies committed between August 2006 and November 2007, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

The Superseding Indictment alleges that Ruben Rosado, 31, of Rahway, committed or aided the following robberies:

August 15, 2006, home invasion robbery of a resident of Allentown, Pa.;
November 27, 2006, robbery of a CardSmart, LLC employee - Cranford, NJ;
December 27, 2006, robbery of Speedy Check Cashing - Linden, NJ;
January 10, 2007, robbery of Rahway Savings Bank - Rahway, NJ;
February 8, 2007, robbery of Wachovia Bank - Colonia, NJ;
March 10, 2007, robbery of Unity Bank - Colonia, NJ;
April 24, 2007, robbery of Unity Bank - Colonia, NJ;
June 25, 2007, robbery of Bank of America - Iselin, NJ;
July 20, 2007, robbery of Columbia Savings Bank - Edison, NJ;
September 4, 2007, robbery of PNC Bank - Fords, NJ;
September 15, 2007, robbery of Wachovia Bank - Metuchen, NJ;
September 25, 2007, robbery of PNC Bank - East Brunswick, NJ;
October 12, 2007, robbery of Bank of America - Edison, NJ; and
November 10, 2007, robbery of Investors Savings Bank - Piscataway, NJ.

According to the Superseding Indictment, Rosado and his co-conspirators joined a robbery spree spanning more than a year, during which more than $288,000 was taken. As alleged in the Superseding Indictment, Rosado and his accomplices would steal cars to use in these robberies and wear masks, gloves, and wigs when committing the robberies. Rosado allegedly brandished firearms during many of the robberies and groped and sexually assaulted numerous female victims.

In the Superseding Indictment brought by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott B. McBride and Joseph G. Mack, Rosado is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit robbery affecting interstate commerce, or so-called “Hobbs Act” robbery; two counts of Hobbs Act robbery; one count of interstate travel in aid of racketeering; 11 counts of bank robbery; and 13 counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

Since Nov. 15, 2007, Rosado has been held in state custody in lieu of bail on unrelated theft charges. On Nov. 20, 2007, Rosado was formally charged in a federal complaint with the robbery of the Investors Savings Bank in Piscataway on November 10, 2007. On April 9, 2008, Judge Shwartz granted Rosado’s motion to proceed to trial without a lawyer. A federal grand jury returned a two-count Indictment against Rosado on April 16, 2008, charging him with one count of armed bank robbery, and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, both in relation to the armed robbery of the Investors Savings Bank in Piscataway. The new indictment supersedes that indictment.

Rosado currently has five co-defendants, including Michael Green, Sandy Hart, Andre Billups, Brandon Thomas, and Andria Yarborough. Green, 30, of Linden, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Joel A. Pisano on Aug. 14 to a three-count Information charging him with one count of bank robbery, as well as one count of conspiracy to commit bank robbery and Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of possessing a firearm during the commission of a violent offense. During his plea hearing, Green admitted his participation in all the robberies listed above except the Allentown, Pa. robbery on Aug. 15, 2006. Green is being held without bail pending his sentencing, which is scheduled for Nov. 18.

Hart, 29, of Rahway, pleaded guilty on Aug. 11 before Judge Pisano to a one-count Information charging him with interstate travel in aid of racketeering in relation to the Allentown home invasion robbery on Aug.15, 2006. Hart is being held without bail pending his sentencing, which is scheduled for Dec. 16.

Billups, 24, of Rahway, pleaded guilty on Aug. 25 before Judge Pisano to a one-count Information charging him with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery in relation to the Allentown home invasion robbery and the Cranford robbery of the CardSmart employee on Nov. 27, 2006. Billups has been released on a $100,000 bond secured by property pending his sentencing, which is scheduled for Dec. 17.

Thomas, 27, of Rahway, was charged by a federal complaint on April 18, 2008, for the receipt and possession of property stolen by Rosado and Green from the Bank of America in Edison, New Jersey on Oct.12, 2007. Thomas has been released on a $100,000 personal recognizance bond pending trial.

Finally, Andria Yarborough pleaded guilty on May 20, 2008 before U.S. District Judge Joseph E. Irenas to a one-count Information charging her with misprision of felony for her role in the Cranford robbery. Yarborough has been released on a $50,000 unsecured bond.

Despite Indictment, all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

U.S. Attorney Christie credited special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Weysan Dun, for the investigation leading to the Superseding Indictment.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott B. McBride of the U.S. Attorney’s Government Fraud Unit, and Joseph G. Mack of the U.S. Attorney’s Securities and Health Care Fraud Unit.

Defense Counsel: (stand-by counsel for pro se defendant), Hal K. Haveson, Esq., Princeton

NEWS United States Department of Justice U.S. Attorney, District of New Jersey 970 Broad Street, Seventh Floor Newark, New Jersey 07102 Christopher J. Christie, U.S. Attorney More Information? Call the Assistant U.S. Attorney or other contact listed below to see if more information is available. News on the Internet: News Releases and related documents are posted at our website. Go to: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/press/index.html
Assistant U.S. Attorneys: SCOTT B. McBRIDE and JOSEPH G. MACK 973-645-2708 and 2824, respectively	rosa1112.rel FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Nov. 12, 2008
Public Affairs Office Michael Drewniak, PAO 973-645-2888
Principal Member of “Route 35 Crew” Named in Superseding Indictment for 13 Robberies in New Jersey and One Home Invasion in Pennsylvania
NEWARK – One of the principal members of the so-called “Route 35 Crew” was named today in a 28-count Superseding Indictment charging him with crimes in connection with 14 robberies committed between August 2006 and November 2007, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced. The Superseding Indictment alleges that Ruben Rosado, 31, of Rahway, committed or aided the following robberies: August 15, 2006, home invasion robbery of a resident of Allentown, Pa.; November 27, 2006, robbery of a CardSmart, LLC employee - Cranford, NJ; December 27, 2006, robbery of Speedy Check Cashing - Linden, NJ; January 10, 2007, robbery of Rahway Savings Bank - Rahway, NJ; February 8, 2007, robbery of Wachovia Bank - Colonia, NJ; March 10, 2007, robbery of Unity Bank - Colonia, NJ; April 24, 2007, robbery of Unity Bank - Colonia, NJ; June 25, 2007, robbery of Bank of America - Iselin, NJ; July 20, 2007, robbery of Columbia Savings Bank - Edison, NJ; September 4, 2007, robbery of PNC Bank - Fords, NJ; September 15, 2007, robbery of Wachovia Bank - Metuchen, NJ; September 25, 2007, robbery of PNC Bank - East Brunswick, NJ; October 12, 2007, robbery of Bank of America - Edison, NJ; and November 10, 2007, robbery of Investors Savings Bank - Piscataway, NJ. According to the Superseding Indictment, Rosado and his co-conspirators joined a robbery spree spanning more than a year, during which more than $288,000 was taken. As alleged in the Superseding Indictment, Rosado and his accomplices would steal cars to use in these robberies and wear masks, gloves, and wigs when committing the robberies. Rosado allegedly brandished firearms during many of the robberies and groped and sexually assaulted numerous female victims. In the Superseding Indictment brought by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott B. McBride and Joseph G. Mack, Rosado is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit robbery affecting interstate commerce, or so-called “Hobbs Act” robbery; two counts of Hobbs Act robbery; one count of interstate travel in aid of racketeering; 11 counts of bank robbery; and 13 counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Since Nov. 15, 2007, Rosado has been held in state custody in lieu of bail on unrelated theft charges. On Nov. 20, 2007, Rosado was formally charged in a federal complaint with the robbery of the Investors Savings Bank in Piscataway on November 10, 2007. On April 9, 2008, Judge Shwartz granted Rosado’s motion to proceed to trial without a lawyer. A federal grand jury returned a two-count Indictment against Rosado on April 16, 2008, charging him with one count of armed bank robbery, and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, both in relation to the armed robbery of the Investors Savings Bank in Piscataway. The new indictment supersedes that indictment. Rosado currently has five co-defendants, including Michael Green, Sandy Hart, Andre Billups, Brandon Thomas, and Andria Yarborough. Green, 30, of Linden, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Joel A. Pisano on Aug. 14 to a three-count Information charging him with one count of bank robbery, as well as one count of conspiracy to commit bank robbery and Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of possessing a firearm during the commission of a violent offense. During his plea hearing, Green admitted his participation in all the robberies listed above except the Allentown, Pa. robbery on Aug. 15, 2006. Green is being held without bail pending his sentencing, which is scheduled for Nov. 18. Hart, 29, of Rahway, pleaded guilty on Aug. 11 before Judge Pisano to a one-count Information charging him with interstate travel in aid of racketeering in relation to the Allentown home invasion robbery on Aug.15, 2006. Hart is being held without bail pending his sentencing, which is scheduled for Dec. 16. Billups, 24, of Rahway, pleaded guilty on Aug. 25 before Judge Pisano to a one-count Information charging him with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery in relation to the Allentown home invasion robbery and the Cranford robbery of the CardSmart employee on Nov. 27, 2006. Billups has been released on a $100,000 bond secured by property pending his sentencing, which is scheduled for Dec. 17. Thomas, 27, of Rahway, was charged by a federal complaint on April 18, 2008, for the receipt and possession of property stolen by Rosado and Green from the Bank of America in Edison, New Jersey on Oct.12, 2007. Thomas has been released on a $100,000 personal recognizance bond pending trial. Finally, Andria Yarborough pleaded guilty on May 20, 2008 before U.S. District Judge Joseph E. Irenas to a one-count Information charging her with misprision of felony for her role in the Cranford robbery. Yarborough has been released on a $50,000 unsecured bond. Despite Indictment, all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. U.S. Attorney Christie credited special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Weysan Dun, for the investigation leading to the Superseding Indictment. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott B. McBride of the U.S. Attorney’s Government Fraud Unit, and Joseph G. Mack of the U.S. Attorney’s Securities and Health Care Fraud Unit. -end- Defense Counsel: (stand-by counsel for pro se defendant), Hal K. Haveson, Esq., Princeton