Man Arrested 15 Years After Allegedly Stealing $150K From NJ Steakhouse

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — Authorities have arrested a man who went on the run for more than 10 years after allegedly robbing a Woodbridge steakhouse of $150,000 in 2009, federal prosecutors announced Monday.

Kofi Edwards, 51, of Trinidad and Tobago, was charged in 2014 with one count of conspiracy to commit armed Hobbs Act robbery, one count of Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of brandishing a firearm in connection with the robbery, U.S. District Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a news release.

Edwards was arrested in California earlier this month and was extradited to New Jersey, where he appeared before a judge Monday and pleaded not guilty to all charges.

According to court documents, Edwards conspired with other individuals to rob the steakhouse at gunpoint in March 2009. Edwards worked with an employee at the restaurant to determine if any managers would be on duty during the robbery as only managers had access to the business's safe.

After confirming a manager was present, Edwards and another person entered the restaurant, according to court documents. Edwards carried a fake gun while the other person was armed with a firearm, prosecutors said. The pair showed employees the weapons and demanded employees open the safe.

Once Edwards had the cash, prosecutors said he and the other person bound employees with zip ties before fleeing the restaurant.

Edwards later left New Jersey and began living under a false name, prosecutors said. He was added to the FBI’s Most Wanted list and the FBI offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading directly to his arrest.

Three other people have been convicted and sentenced in connection with the robbery, prosecutors said.