Morris Prosecutor: Sentencing Announced in Case of Denville Carjacking

Published on May 23, 2019

Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp, Acting Chief of Investigations Christoph Kimker, and Denville Police Chief Frank Perna announce that Michael Romeo, 32, with a last known address of Sewell, New Jersey, has been convicted and sentenced related to a carjacking incident that occurred in Denville on July 10, 2018.

Romeo was sentenced to five years in New Jersey State Prison and must serve all five years of this sentence before being eligible for parole. He also is subject to a five year term of parole supervision following completion of the term of incarceration.

On Jan. 14, 2019, the defendant entered a guilty plea to carjacking, a crime of the first degree. In pleading guilty, he admitted that on July 10, 2018, he accepted a ride from the victim into Denville. When being dropped off, he admitted to putting the victim in fear of bodily injury so that he could steal the victim's vehicle. Romeo then drove away from the scene in the victim's stolen vehicle.

Members of the Denville Police Department and the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit subsequently located the defendant and the victim's stolen car in Philadelphia. On July 12, 2018, Romeo was arrested by Philadelphia Police, and was later extradited to Morris County to face charges related to this incident.

Sentence was imposed by Superior Court Judge David Ironson. The state was represented by Morris County Assistant Prosecutor Tara Wang.

Prosecutor Knapp would like to thank the Denville Police Department, Philadelphia Police Department, Morris County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Section, and the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit for their contributions to this investigation and prosecution.

Inquiries should be directed to Public Information Officer Peter DiGennaro at pressinquiry@co.morris.nj.us or 973-829-8159.