Two Hudson County Men Admit Gas Station Robberies and Attempted Carjacking

NEWARK, N.J. – Two Hudson County, New Jersey, men admitted their involvement in a string of armed robberies of gas stations, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.

Wendell Bradley Jr., 27, of Bayonne, New Jersey pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, one count of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of attempted carjacking, and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

Joseph Brown, 26, of Jersey City, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on May 9, 2024, before Judge Arleo to an information charging him with one count of attempted Hobbs Act robbery and one count of Hobbs Act robbery.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

From Jan. 3, 2022, to Feb. 4, 2022, Bradley, either alone or with Brown, would drive to a gas station, pull up to a gas pump, ask the gas station attendant to put gas in the car’s tank, and, while the tank was being filled, would pull a gun on the attendant and demand money. On Jan. 20, 2022, in Union, Brown pointed a gun at a gas station attendant, demanded money, and threated to kill him. Bradley then grabbed the attendant from behind, but the attendant was able to break free and escape into the gas station before Brown or Bradley could take any money from him.

The spree ended on Feb. 4, 2022, after Bradley and Brown robbed a gas station attendant at gunpoint in Secaucus, New Jersey. After the robbery, Bradley and Brown fled, and officers chased them from Secaucus to Newark, where Bradley crashed his car.

The conspiracy, robbery, and attempted robbery charges each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gain or loss from the offenses, whichever is greatest. The carjacking charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gain or loss from the offenses, whichever is greatest. The firearm possession charge carries a mandatory minimum prison sentence of seven years and a maximum penalty of life in prison. Sentencing for Bradley is scheduled for Oct. 10, 2024; sentencing for Brown is scheduled for Oct. 3, 2024.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Ross A. Marchetti; the Clifton Police Department, under the direction of Chief Thomas Rinaldi; the Hillside Police Department, under the direction of Chief Vincent P. Ricciardi Jr,; the Jersey City Department of Public Safety, under the direction of Public Safety Director James Shea; the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé; the North Bergan Police Department, under the direction of Chief Peter Fasilis; the Secaucus Police Department, under the direction of Chief Dennis Miller; and the Union Police Department, under the direction of Police Director Chris Donnelly, with the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Webman of the Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit in Newark.