Orange Man Among Criminal 'Cops' Caught in Alleged Robbery Spree

Two men celebrated Memorial Day in the Morris County Department of Corrections after being charged in three robberies while allegedly impersonating police officers and targeting residents based on their immigration status.

Vincenzo Viola, 37, of Orange and 34-year-old Robert P. Capriglione, 34, of Clifton were each charged with first-degree robbery; second-degree burglary; third-degree criminal restraint; third-degree criminal coercion; fourth-degree impersonating a law enforcement officer and third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance, acting Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp said Tuesday.

The arrests were the watershed moment in an investigation that began on May 20 when two men reported to the Dover Police Department that they were robbed by two men posing as police officers, Knapp said.

Crime Spree

The robbery victims described a dark-colored four-door Ford F250 diesel pickup truck with yellow letters on the side drive past them and park behind their vehicle, Knapp said. Viola and Capriglione allegedly had flashlights and were wearing police officer's attire when they approached the parked car and identified themselves as Randolph police officers, Knapp said.

According to the report of the victims, one spoke Spanish and one spoke English and after demanding the victims’ identification, the two phony police officers asked them if they were “illegals,” Knapp said. 

Viola and Capriglione allegedly took money that was inside one of the victims' wallet, Knapp said.

"Police officers are a special type of employee. They are held in the public’s trust," Knapp said. "It is of the utmost urgency that such persons were immediately caught."

Approximately 20 minutes after the robbery on Belmont Avenue, Dover police received a 911 call from a pair of men walking in the Dover Municipal Parking Lot A who reported being robbed by two Latino males posing as police officers, Knapp said.

According to the report, Viola and Capriglione exited a dark-colored construction-type truck with double doors, three rows of large letters on the door and a wheelbarrow in the back bed, Knapp said. Viola and Capriglione were allegedly wearing police officer attire, including dark-colored police shirts and badges around their necks when they took money from both men, Knapp said.

At midnight May 22, the Dover Police Department responded to an armed robbery call at 109 First St. and found a victim at that location handcuffed, Knapp said. According to the victim's report, Viola and Capriglione had arrived at the Dover Hills apartment complex, entered the apartment building and loudly knocked on numerous apartment doors identifying themselves as police officers, Knapp said.  

Viola and Capriglione ordered the occupants to open their apartment doors or they would kick them down, Knapp said. The victim was allegedly handcuffed and placed against an outside wall where Viola and Capriglione allegedly brandished a handgun and robbed him, Knapp said.

'Cops' Caught

Viola and Capriglione were apprehended on May 26 after Mendham Township police Officer Matthew Ambrosi spotted the "Green Energy Solutions" truck at 43 Roxiticus Road while on routine patrol, Knapp said.

Ambrosi was familiar with the description of the vehicle used in the May 20 and May 22 robberies and also knew that the home the truck was parked in was vacant as it was recently sold, Knapp said.

Ambrosi suspected a burglary in progress and called for backup, Knapp said.

Both Viola and Capriglione were located in the Roxiticus Road home and were  transported to the Mendham Police Department for questioning, Knapp said.

Capriglione was found to be in possession of suboxone without a valid prescription, and a search warrant for the Roxiticus Road address and Green Energy Solutions truck revealed two police jackets and two genuine police badges on chains from police departments in Morris County, Knapp said. 

First Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Zelante declined to comment on what agencies the authentic badges came from.

Additionally, police recovered flashlights, black gloves, black hats and suspected heroin and other drug paraphernalia, Knapp said.

Judge Robert J. Brennan set bail at $300,000 cash for each of the men without a 10-percent cash option, Knapp said.

"Because of the serious nature and plea for information from the public," Knapp said, "we believe there may be more people who were victims, and we want anyone with information to come forward."

Knapp said anyone with information concerning the three robberies or potential victims should contact the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Major Crimes Unit at 973-285-6212. 

"We believe the immigrant status of the victims may be a factor and we believe there may have been other incidents in Morris and Essex County," Knapp said. "We are looking for witnesses as well as victims."

Phone calls and email messages to Green Solutions, Inc. were not immediately returned.

Knapp credited Detective Sgt. Chris Bratus of Washington Township, Ambrosi and Officer Timothy Thiele and Dover Sgt. Richard Gonzalez as integral players in the investigation. Knapp would not explain their roles, however.