Middlesex County officials announced today that two people have been arrested and charged for their involvement in the theft of over $250,000 and personal identifying information from at least 50 victims.
According to police, the two were arrested on March 30 and charged following a six-week investigation by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Unit. The defendants have been identified as Shemar Rogers, 22, and Tariah Darby, 22, both of New Brunswick.
Police said that Rogers has been charged with first-degree Promoting Organized Street Crime, Theft by Deception, Conspiracy to Commit Theft by Deception, Money Laundering, Identity Theft, and Trafficking in Personal Identity Information; all second-degree crimes.
Darby has been charged with second-degree Conspiracy to Commit Theft by Deception and third-degree Money Laundering.
According to police, on March 30, a court-ordered search of their residence at the Quincy Apartments, located in New Brunswick, resulted in detectives seizing U.S. Currency, jewelry, merchandise purchased with victims’ funds, and a 2020 BMW 430i all with a total value in excess of $250,000.
Law Enforcement also seized a handgun, 12 rounds of ammunition in the weapon, 1 loose round of hollowpoint ammunition, checks issued in other names, a New York driver’s license in another name, and a money counter.
Previously, five other arrests were made during this ongoing investigation. On February 16, Saleeya Saldana, 18, and Ronald Wallace, 57, both of New York were arrested and charged with Attempted Theft by Deception and Conspiracy to Commit Theft by Deception; both third-degree crimes.
In addition, on February 25, Isiah Oree, 29 and Daquan Kinloch 25, both of South Carolina and Shemar Rogers were arrested and charged with Attempted Theft by Deception and Conspiracy to Commit Theft by Deception; both third-degree crimes, police said.
The investigation is active and continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Ryan Tighe of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-4335.