10 People Charged In Bergen County Burglary Ring: Prosecutor

Ten people were arrested in connection with a massive burglary ring that targeted cell phone and cosmetic stores throughout New Jersey, as part of a six-month-long investigation by more than a dozen law enforcement agencies in the state.

Members of the ring were accused of burglarizing Verizon, AT&T, and Blue Mercury stores in East Rutherford, Englewood, and Lodi, and trying to burglarize stores in Paramus and Ridgewood, said acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo.

The following people were arrested and charged as part of the investigation:

• Manuel Dessus, 49, of Bogota
• Aileen Dessus, 39, of Bogota
• Duane Holmes, 47, of North Bergen
• Dashonti Wiley, 27, of East Orange
• Muhtaqim Farid, 43, of Newark
• Samuel Lymore, 40, of Illinois
• Jennifer Reyes, 30, of West New York
• Ivette Reyes, 31, of West New York
• Gregory Hyman, 45, of Nyack, New York

Detectives from the prosecutor's office, along with a task force of members from various local police departments, executed several search warrants in Fort Lee, Bogota, West New York, Newark, East Orange, Union City, and North Bergen Monday.

Manuel Dessus and his wife, Aileen, were identified by authorities as "fences," people who would take the stolen merchandise and illegally sell it, Calo said.

Lymore, Farid, Wiley, and Holmes are the primary suspects in 20 commercial burglaries. Michael Reyes, Holmes, and Wiley were each charged with multiple counts of burglary and theft, receiving a stolen motor vehicle, and possession of burglary tools; fencing, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit burglary. Holmes, Lymore, and Wiley were also charged with several conspiracy-related offenses, Calo said.

Farid was charged with fencing, money laundering, conspiracy to commit fencing, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and two drug-related offenses, Calo said.

Lymore, Manuel Dessus, and Aileen Dessus were also each charged with fencing, money laundering, and several conspiracy-related offenses, Calo said.

Jennifer Reyes and Ivette Reyes were each charged in Hudson County with first-degree possession of heroin, possession of cocaine, and maintaining a premises used for the manufacture of heroin, and child endangerment, Calo said.

Hyman was charged with possession of heroin.

Lymore, Wiley, Farid, Holmes, and Manuel Dessus are in authorities' custody at the Bergen County Jail pending detention hearings and first court appearances Friday morning, the acting prosecutor said.

Aileen Dessus was released after her first court appearance Tuesday.

Hyman was served with a summons and released.

Authorities are continuing their investigation.

Municipal police departments in East Rutherford, Lodi, Paramus, Ridgewood, Tenafly, Millburn, Union City, West New York, Hoboken, Newark, Paterson, South Orange, East Orange, and North Bergen, along with the Bergen and Essex County sheriff's departments are assisting the prosecutor's office with the investigation.

Editors note: The prosecutor's office did not provide a photo of Michael Reyes.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com