New Jersey authorities in a statement on Monday announced the arrest of a 51-year-old fugitive who had evaded capture for 15 years after he allegedly participated in a $150,000 steakhouse robbery.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger in the statement said that in 2014, Kofi Edwards of Trinidad and Tobago was indicted with one count of conspiracy to commit armed Hobbs Act robbery, one count of Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
Authorities said Edwards was ultimately arrested in California and appeared before the Newark federal court on Monday. He is said to have entered a not-guilty plea and was ordered to remain in custody. The statement said Edwards had initially appeared before a Sacramento court on Jul 10, 2024.
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Authorities said Edwards, who was added to the FBI’s “Most Wanted” list after the March 2009 robbery, had been using a fake identity while he was on the run. Authorities said Edwards and his accomplices conspired to commit an armed robbery at a steakhouse restaurant in Woodbridge, New Jersey.
One of Edwards’ accomplices was a worker at the steakhouse, and that employee called the establishment to find out if any managers were around as he was aware that only managers could unlock the restaurant’s safe, per the statement. After receiving the confirmation about a manager being around, Edwards and a different accomplice made their way into the restaurant. Authorities said Edwards was in possession of a fake gun while his accomplice was armed with a firearm, adding that the two robbers brandished the weapons and ordered the employees to open the safe.
“After the employees complied, Edwards and the other individual bound the employees with plastic zip ties and fled with approximately $150,000 in cash,” the statement said.
Authorities said Edwards subsequently left New Jersey and started using a fake identity. “He was added to the FBI’s ‘Most Wanted’ list and the FBI offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading directly to his arrest,” the statement continued. “Three other defendants have been convicted and sentenced in connection with the Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy.”
If found guilty of the counts of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and Hobbs Act robbery, Edwards could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison. He also faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of seven years if convicted of the count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Authorities said that conviction “must run consecutively to any other sentence Edwards receives – and a maximum potential penalty of life in prison.”
“Each count also carries a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gain or loss from the offenses, whichever is greatest,” the statement said.
