Fake Cops Rob Fair Lawn House, Tie Up Homeowner: Prosecutor

FAIR LAWN, NJ — Two men hid behind fake police detective badges to get into a home, where they tied up the occupants and stole about $3,000 in cash, jewelry and an Apple Watch, according to police reports.

Michael D'Angelo, 50, and Daniel Ruggiero, 53, were each charged with impersonating law enforcement, kidnapping, robbery and other offenses linked to the armed invasion of a Fair Lawn home in November, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said.

D'Angelo and Ruggiero wore New York Police Department-style badges to get inside the 28th Street home, where they zip-tied those inside and made off with the stolen items, police said. One of the victims, police added, sustained a laceration to his finger, for reasons undisclosed, and was treated at the scene.

Both of the defendants were charged alongside four others, who were accused in the planning and commission of the robbery and charged accordingly. All six were arrested Monday without incident and remanded to jails in the area, pending extradition to Bergen County, according to the complaint and the prosecutor.

D'Angelo, Ruggiero, and suspects Dominick Memoli, 57, all of the Bronx; and Sian Stafford, 28, of New York City, were remanded to Bronx Central Booking. The others charged, Bruno Simonetti, 43, of Mount Vernon; and Erion Beshiri, 31, of Bronx, were remanded to Westchester and Suffolk County Jails, respectively, the prosecutor added.

D'Angelo and Ruggiero were also hit with armed burglary, aggravated assault, theft and weapons charges (specifically in relation to a handgun that was involved), officials said.