By: Richard L. Smith
A 26-year-old Brooklyn man wanted in connection with a 2024 armed robbery at a Maywood jewelry store has been arrested following a nearly two-year investigation.
According to information released by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Cristian Ricardo Vera Castillo was taken into custody on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, in New York City by members of the New York City Police Department. He is currently being held pending extradition to Bergen County.
Authorities said the charges stem from an April 23, 2024 armed robbery at a jewelry store on West Pleasant Avenue in Maywood.
During the incident, two men allegedly entered the store, displayed firearms, and confronted an employee and customer.
A brief struggle occurred before the suspects fled, leaving behind duct tape and zip ties.
Investigators determined the robbery involved multiple individuals who planned and carried out the crime using mopeds and a vehicle as part of the getaway.
Five other men were previously arrested and charged in the case between June 2024 and November 2025, including one suspect who was located in Detroit and extradited back to New Jersey.
All remain in custody at the Bergen County Jail.
Officials said the arrest of Vera Castillo marks the latest development in the 22-month joint investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Maywood Police Department.