Ex-UFC Fighter Billed in New Jersey Jewelry Theft
According to the Howell Township (N.J.) Police Department, 32-12 months-aged Roberson burglarized the household on West Farms Street with co-conspirator Dathan Thompson, also 32, on Dec. 26, 2022.
Roberson and Thompson are accused of thieving extra than $200,000 in “exotic jewellery and valuables.”
In an interview with Fox Information, the target, Leonard, specified that the burglars manufactured off with his $80,000 Rolex Presidential enjoy, $60,000 value of Cuban chains, and a $30,000 bracelet, amid other things.
Leonard mentioned he’s acknowledged Roberson due to the fact he was 18 and the fighter was 14, the two acquiring developed up in close by Neptune, New Jersey.
Leonard is a U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq from 2009 to 2010, and afterwards observed accomplishment with his products improvement, sourcing, and supply chain management business enterprise NJF All over the world.
Roberson seasoned his very own occur-up tale as a kickboxer-turned-blended martial artist who earned a coveted location in the Final Battling Championship (UFC), mixed martial arts’ most celebrated league, in 2017.
His results, nevertheless, had lately taken a change.
Right after a somewhat promising start off in the UFC, COVID reschedules, health and fitness issues, and a couple of missed weigh-ins appeared to flip the tide for the fighter setting up in 2020.
In July 2022, right after four consecutive losses, the UFC introduced Roberson.
Howell Township detectives mentioned they used, “advanced coaching in technological purposes,” as effectively as mobile cell phone info evaluation to examine the residence burglary.
Leonard instructed Fox News he regarded the pink footwear one of the suspects wore in household surveillance video clip of the burglary as those of Thompson. He said Thompson experienced traveled the planet with Roberson as his “right-hand male.”
Inspite of originally not believing police when they indicated Roberson could be associated, Leonard said he sooner or later recognized the overall body language of the burglar—who, together with the other suspect, was carrying a hoodie, face mask, and gloves—matched that of his good friend.
“I couldn’t unsee it as substantially as I wanted to,” Leonard informed Fox Information. He believes Roberson was in a position to case the dwelling through before and soon after photographs he experienced sent him though it was being crafted.
On March 27, Roberson was arrested during a motor car or truck stop in Neptune.
Police reported he was driving a motor vehicle linked with the burglary. When exploring the car or truck, officers discovered a “defaced 9 mm handgun with an prolonged magazine,” suspected packages of crack cocaine, and other things affiliated with the theft.
Roberson has been charged with burglary, theft, prison mischief, possession of a controlled perilous compound, and many weapons expenses.
Thompson, who was arrested the identical day as Roberson with no incident at his dwelling, is struggling with burglary, theft, and felony mischief prices.