Fugitive Arrested in Connection to Armed Robbery in Woodbridge

Kofi Edwards, a Trinidadian and Tobagonian national, was arrested after evading capture for over a decade following an armed robbery in Woodbridge, NJ.

WOODBRIDGE, N.J. - A long-time fugitive, Kofi Edwards, 51, of Trinidad and Tobago, has been apprehended in California and charged with his involvement in the 2009 armed robbery of a steakhouse in Woodbridge, New Jersey. Edwards, who was indicted in 2014, faces charges of conspiracy to commit armed Hobbs Act robbery, Hobbs Act robbery, and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

According to court documents, Edwards and his accomplices orchestrated the robbery with the aid of a restaurant employee, who confirmed the presence of a manager capable of opening the safe. Armed with a fake gun, Edwards and another individual entered the restaurant, brandishing weapons and demanding access to the safe. They subsequently bound the employees and escaped with approximately $150,000.

Following the robbery, Edwards fled New Jersey and lived under a false identity. He was placed on the FBI's "Most Wanted" list, which included a $10,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. His recent capture led to his initial appearance in a California federal court, followed by his transfer to New Jersey, where he pleaded not guilty.

If convicted, Edwards faces severe penalties, including a maximum of 20 years for the Hobbs Act charges and a mandatory minimum of seven years, potentially up to life, for brandishing a firearm. The investigation involved multiple law enforcement agencies under the Newark Central Jersey Safe Streets Task Force, highlighting the coordinated effort to address violent crime and gang activities in the region.

The charges against Edwards are accusations at this stage, with a presumption of innocence until proven guilty.