By: Richard L. Smith
A Linden resident is among three men indicted in connection with a violent armed home invasion in Rochelle Park that led investigators to uncover a separate credit card fraud and identity theft operation, according to information released by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests and indictments of 41-year-old Raudel Cangas of Linden, 37-year-old Kelvin F. Morel of Fair Lawn, and 43-year-old Miguel Sanchez of the Bronx, New York, on charges stemming from the March 10 armed home invasion.
Prosecutors also announced charges against 55-year-old Marius Fica of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and 39-year-old Sorin L. Pavel of Sunnyside, New York, after detectives uncovered an alleged fraud operation during the investigation.
Authorities said Rochelle Park police responded to a home invasion in progress at approximately 3 a.m. on March 10 at a residence on Howard Avenue.
Responding officers learned that gunshots had been fired and that residents were actively struggling with armed intruders inside the home.
As officers rushed to the scene, they spotted a suspicious vehicle leaving the area. Police attempted to stop the vehicle, but the pursuit was eventually terminated after officers lost sight of it.
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad joined the Rochelle Park Police Department in the investigation.
Detectives soon determined the targeted residence was being used as a short-term rental and discovered two occupants were allegedly operating a credit card fraud and identity theft scheme from inside the home.
As the investigation progressed, detectives identified Cangas, Morel, and Sanchez as the suspects responsible for the home invasion. Criminal charges were filed against the trio on April 1.
The following day, investigators arrested Cangas at his Linden residence with assistance from the Union County Regional SWAT Team.
During a court-authorized search, detectives recovered multiple handguns, ammunition, a rifle, and other firearm-related accessories. He remains lodged in the Bergen County Jail pending further court proceedings.
Morel was also arrested on April 2 after detectives executed a search warrant at his Fair Lawn home with assistance from the Bergen County Regional SWAT Team.
Although initially released pending further court action, prosecutors later successfully petitioned the court to reopen his detention hearing based on new evidence developed during the investigation. He was subsequently ordered held in the Bergen County Jail.
Sanchez was arrested the same day in the Bronx with assistance from the FBI’s Violent Threat Initiative and the New York City Police Department.
After being extradited to New Jersey, he was remanded to the Bergen County Jail.
On June 23, a Bergen County grand jury returned an 18-count indictment charging Cangas, Morel, and Sanchez in connection with the armed home invasion. Prosecutors said the investigation remains ongoing.