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Illegal alien admits plot to rob Wyckoff pizzeria owner

ONLY ON CVP: One of three people charged in a botched scheme to rob the owner of a Wyckoff pizzeria pleaded guilty yesterday, while lawyers for his former girlfriend and a third co-defendant said they’re set to go to trial next week.

Photo Credit: Mary K. Miraglia, CLIFFVIEW PILOT Courthouse Reporter

Luis A. Diaz (inset, above), 23, of Paterson, agreed to a seven-year prison term — nearly six years of which he must serve — in exchange for pleading guilty to armed robbery for his role in the aborted December 2012 holdup.

He also agreed to testify against Nicole Gorter (above, right), 20, of North Haledon and 29-year-old Jose M. Navarrohidalgo (left) of Paterson.

Then Diaz, a Dominican national, will be deported.

Diaz said that he and Navarrohidalgo got a ride to the pizzeria owner’s house from Gorter but got spooked and ran away after the man answered the door. He said he then called Gorter and “bullied” her into picking them up.

Blocks away, Wyckoff and Midland Park police grabbed the trio.

Diaz said he and Navarrohidalgo originally were going to rob the restaurant but changed their minds after seeing security cameras.

Although all three were charged with weapons possession, Diaz said a .38-caliber Taurus revolver that they had was a “street gun” that belonged to Navarrohidalgo.

Diaz was first brought to court on Monday, but the deal collapsed when he couldn’t get the details straight.

Presiding Superior Court Judge Liliana DeAvila-Silebi ordered him held without bail yesterday until a June 20 sentencing.

Gorter and Navarrohidalgo remained held on $100,000 bail each. They are to be tried next week on charges of armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, possession of a weapon for unlawful use and possession of a knife.

STORY / PHOTOS: Mary K. Miraglia, CLIFFVIEW PILOT Courthouse Reporter

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