Four charged in Middlesex County home invasions

Authorities have filed charges against four suspects from Texas in connection with a series of home invasion robberies targeting Asian-Indian residents of Middlesex County.

The charges were filed after the defendants were identified through the combined efforts of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, as well as authorities in Georgia, Michigan, New York and Texas, where the individuals were apprehended last week.

The suspects have been identified as Chaka Castro, 39; Juan Olaya, 34; Octavius Scott, 22 and Johnisha Williams, 19. Authorities said in a press release Monday that it was not immediately known when the defendants, all residents of Houston, Texas, will be returned to New Jersey. Bail for each suspect has been set for each of them at $1.25 million.

Castro has been charged with five counts of conspiracy to commit robbery, which is a second degree offense, with a count stemming from each of the home invasions.

"Her co-defendants have been charged with a series of counts arising from each of the home invasions, including first-degree robbery and first-degree kidnapping, second-degree conspiracy, second-degree burglary, second-degree aggravated assault, and terroristic threats, theft, criminal mischief, and hindering their apprehension, all third degree offenses. In addition, the co-defendants also are charged with fourth degree counts of pointing firearms at victims in each of the home invasions," the prosecutor's office said in a press release.

The first-degree kidnapping charge carries penalties of up to 30 years in prison, while first-degree robbery counts each carry 20-year terms. In addition, authorities said "the other second degree counts allow for 10-year prison terms. The third degree charges carry five-year terms and the fourth degree charges have a penalty of 18 months in custody."

According to the Associated Press, the robberies began late in October and have occurred in several Middlesex County towns including Edison, South Plainfield and Old Bridge. The incidents have occurred around the Hindu holiday of Diwali, during which items such as gold jewelry is frequently given as a gift.

Charges against the individuals stem from an investigation in which Agent John Selesky and Detective John Marotta, both of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, determined that Castro "targeted specific homes in the three Middlesex County communities and then directed her co-defendants to commit the crimes."

During the crimes, authorities say Scott and Olaya allegedly entered the homes at gunpoint. The suspects restrained the residents before leaving with the stolen items. The individuals also smashed the residents' cell phones and allegedly threatened them.

"In all but the home invasion in Old Bridge on Nov. 29, 2014, Williams waited outside the homes and drove Scott and Olaya from the crime scenes," the prosecutor's office said in the press release.