Holmdel Station Troopers Help Dismantle Car Theft Ring: NJSP

HOLMDEL, NJ - New Jersey State Police Troopers from Troop “D” Holmdel Station were recently commended for their assistance in helping to dismantle a multi-county vehicle theft ring. The efforts led to 31 arrests as part of the 13-month operation “Bust a Move," according to state authorities.

According to a news release from the New Jersey State Police, detectives from the Troop “D” Criminal Investigation Office assisted in an investigation into a single-vehicle crash in the Woodbridge section of the Garden State Parkway in October 2019, seizing a handgun and discovering the vehicle was wanted by the Sayreville Borough Police Department for fleeing a motor vehicle stop.

A subsequent investigation found that the vehicle was stolen from Sayreville Borough on October 20, 2019 by Chris Rosado, 24, of Newark, and Kelsey Acosta, 26, of Perth Amboy. Investigators determined that Melvin Martinez, 22, and Julian Ferreira, 22, both of Newark, were in the Honda at the time of the crash, fled the scene, later to be picked up by Kelsey Acosta and Chris Rosado in Woodbridge.

In December 2019, detectives arrested Rosado at his residence and charged him with hindering and joyriding, while Acosta turned herself into detectives at Holmdel Station and was charged with hindering and possession of marijuana. Following an investigation, detectives discovered that Rosado and Acosta were allegedly operating a vehicle-theft ring that targeted Hondas and Acuras in Hudson, Middlesex and Union counties.

Detectives also determined that Acosta and Rosado were using a storage facility in Union County to store and sell stolen auto parts. State Police detectives executed a search warrant in February 2020 and seized a Honda Civic, a stolen transmission, a stolen engine, fictitious plates, various auto parts and tools, according to the news release.

Rosado was charged on Dec. 22 with conspiracy to commit theft, conspiracy to lead an auto theft network, conspiracy to operate a facility for sale of stolen auto parts, auto theft, leader of auto theft network, operation of facility for sale of stolen auto parts, fencing, receiving stolen property, altering a vehicle identification number, unlawful possession of a handgun, possession of hollow point ammunition, eluding and possession of fraudulent insurance card. He is lodged at the Essex County Jail.

Kelsey Acosta was arrested on Dec. 22 at her residence. She was charged with conspiracy to commit theft, conspiracy to lead an auto theft network, conspiracy to operate a facility for sale of stolen auto parts, auto theft, leader of auto theft network, operation of facility for sale of stolen auto parts, fencing, receiving stolen property, altering a vehicle identification number and production of fraudulent insurance card. She is lodged at Middlesex County Jail.

Detectives also identified Collins Kusi, 30, of Roselle, as a ringleader and Melvin Martinez and Lazaro Ramos, 27, of Keasbey, as associates. All three, in addition to Lazao Ramos of Linden, were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit theft, among other charges, in connection with the operation.

The case is being prosecuted by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.