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Jean B. Barthelemy, 23, said the idea was hatched in November 2012 when Daniel Margulies drove him and Carlos Escarraman to the BP Connect gas station on Essex Street for cigarettes.
When he came back out, Barthelemy said, he suggested the holdup to the other two because there would be no cameras or video to identify them.
The trio then went to the home of another man, got a BB gun from him and returned to Escarraman’s house, where Barthelemy said he put on a disguise.
He said he used the BB gun a short time later to rob the BP attendant of $600. The 6-foot-4, 180-pound Bathelemy also grabbed a pack of Newports on the way out, authorities said.
Along the way, Barthelemy began tossing clothing he was wearing “to alter his appearance in the event the vehicle was stopped by responding officers,” Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli said at the time.
Barthelemy joined Escarraman, 22, in pleading guilty.
He also agreed to testify against Margulies — who pleaded guilty four days later.
Margulies also pleaded guilty to a separate indictment charging him with burglarizing the Ice House rink in Hackensack on Jan. 30 and Feb. 3 this year. City police told CLIFFVIEW PILOT that he rifled through belongings in two locker rooms and taking mostly cash from team members of the “Rusty Nuts” hockey team from Riverdale, N.Y.
He also has two previous arrests for drug violations in 2012 that were downgraded to municipal offenses, records show.
Among other things, Barthelemy told the judge that Margulies knew he was driving Barthelemy to the gas station to rob it, and he never threatened Margulies.
“You didn’t force Margulies to drive you there, to wait outside the gas station?” Ferreira questioned Barthelemy.
“No, not at all,” he replied.
“In fact he agreed to participate,” Ferreira asked. “When you first went into the BP, it was just to purchase cigarettes, is that true?”
“Yes.”
“And it occurred to you it was a good way to make money because it was after Hurricane Sandy and there was no electricity – the cameras and video would be inoperable.”
“While discussing this plan, is it true Danny Margulies drove you around a number of times so you could stake out the place?” Ferreira asked.
“Yes,” Barthelemy replied.
“And Danny Margulies knew you were going inside to commit a robbery?”
“Yes,” Barthelemy said.
He also said Margulies accepted $150 and some Molly as payment for driving Barthelemy to and from the robbery.
In exchange for his plea, Barthelemy will be sentenced to seven years — of which he must serve five years and nine months, Assistant Bergen County Prosecutor David Calviello said. He also has to repay the gas station and will be on supervised parole after his release.
Escarraman was sentenced Friday to two years’ probation for conspiracy to commit theft.
Sentencing for Margulies was scheduled for Sept. 19.
Assistant Bergen County Prosecutor David Calviello, Jean B. Barthelemy, Daniel Margulies (STORY PHOTOS Mary K. Miraglia, CLIFFVIEW PILOT Courthouse Reporter)
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