DNA Leads To Charges In Cold Case Of '03 Mahwah Armed Robbery

MAHWAH, NJ — For 15 years, the case was cold. The victim, the owner of a popular Ramsey pizzeria, was tied up in his home. Three armed men stole between $100,000 and $200,000 from a safe.

The 2003 case went cold until June 16 when the Bergen County Sheriff's Department contacted Mahwah Police Detective Sgt. Kevin Hebert about a positive match to DNA found on a costume mask that was found at the Indian Field Court crime scene, along with a .22-caliber handgun, which were left at the house, Mahwah Police Chief James Batelli.

The DNA belonged to Paul Shkreli, 45, of Yonkers, New York. Hebert determined that Shkreli was the building superintendent for an apartment complex in Mahwah when the robbery occurred. The complex was a short walk from the victim's home and near the pizzeria in Ramsey, Batelli said.

Police investigated and a warrant was issued for Shkreli, who was incarcerated in the Westchester County Jail in New York on other charges, the chief said. Shkreli was charged with kidnapping, robbery, armed burglary, theft of more than $75,000, possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes.

Shkreli is awaiting extradition to New Jersey on the charges once he completes his jail term in New York.

Shkreli and the other suspects entered the home through a basement window, tied him up, and demanded to know where the safe was and where money was hidden, Batelli said.

The suspects tied the victim to a chair. He gave them $15,000, but they demanded more money and threatened to harm him until he told them where it was, Batelli said. The home was ransacked until the money was found.

Shkreli led New York State and local police on a high-speed chase after authorities tried to stop him in Bedford, New York in 2004. Authorities believed he was part of a burglary ring. The vehicle became disabled and Shkreli fled on foot. He was later arrested, Batelli said.

Shkreli was arrested in 2017 after he tried to break into a Yorktown, New York jewelry store, the chief said. He was charged with burglary.

Batelli said Shkreli is a suspect in two other burglaries to the same residence Shkreli allegedly broke into in 2003.

"The Mahwah Detective Bureau is already working on information and is confident that the other robberies will be solved and the additional suspects will be identified, charged, and arrested in the near future," Batelli said.

Photo: Paul Shkreli, 45 (Mahwah Police Department)