Essex County Men Plead Guilty, Robbed 8 Victims During Daylong Crime Spree

NEWARK, NJ — A trio of Essex County men have pleaded guilty to robbing several victims at gunpoint – including a 14-year-old schoolgirl and an 88-year-old woman – during a one-day crime spree that took place in 2014, authorities say.

On Tuesday, the three men - Andre Glaspie, 27, Khalif Ford, 23, both of Newark, and Dazhan Goff, 22, of Irvington – pleaded guilty to conspiracy and first degree armed robbery in New Jersey Superior Court.

Under the terms of a plea agreement, the state will recommend a 20-year sentence for each defendant, prosecutors said. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 7.

According to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the men robbed a total of eight people on Jan. 16, 2014; most were reportedly walking to or from school or work at the time of the attacks.

The victims – seven of whom were females - ranged in age from a 14-year-old school girl to an 88-year-old woman. The van used in the eight robberies was stolen from an 88-year-old woman, the ninth victim of the day, prosecutors said.

“In the early morning hours of Jan. 16, 2014, riding in a van stolen from an 88-year-old woman, the trio traveled around the city of Newark,” prosecutors stated in a news release. “Glaspie and Ford admitted jumping out of the van and demanding the victims’ cell phones, cash, pocketbooks and other personal items. As reports of the armed robberies were called into 911, Newark police identified the gold van used in all eight of the robberies. They pursued the vehicle and a chase ended in the vicinity of Bergen Street and Goldsmith Avenue.”

Ford and Glaspie were arrested at the scene, and the robbery proceeds were discovered in the van the same day, prosecutors said.

Authorities said that Goff - the driver of the van - fled the scene but was later identified when his fingerprint was discovered on the driver side door of the van. Goff was arrested on Feb. 7, 2014.

Each defendant pled guilty to one count of second degree conspiracy and three counts of first degree armed robbery. Glaspie and Ford pled guilty to third degree receiving stolen property of the van, and Goff pled guilty to second degree eluding police.

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