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Richard LeBlanca, 26, pleaded guilty to a single conspiracy count and remains in federal custody until U.S. District Judge William H. Walls sentences him on July 26 in Newark.
The dominos have fallen quickly in this case. Just less than a month ago, a fellow city cop, Brian Checo, 24, told Walls that he, LaBlanca, and Kelvin Jones burst into the In Style USA warehouse, brandishing firearms, displaying NYPD-issued badges, and identifying themselves as city police. (See: NYPD officer cops to perfume warehouse heist )
They then tied the employees’ hands behind their backs and held them hostage while a group of day laborers they brought with them loaded hundreds of boxes of high-end perfume onto trucks that Checo rented earlier that day in Jersey City.
Carlstadt police were quick to the scene after an employee broke free and dialed 911. They managed to grab one of the conspirators before freeing the rest of the hostages. (See: Gunmen tie up workers, haul off $1 million worth of high-end perfume)
The FBI then assembled the case quickly. (See: New York City cops charged in $1 million perfume heist)
Checo, who worked in the 34th Precinct with LaBlanca, said he falsely reported to an NYPD precinct that his driver’s license and credit card had been stolen.
U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman credited the FBI, along with Carlstadt police and Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli.
Still awaiting trial are Jones, also of New York City, as well as Gabriel Vargas, Luis R. Morales, Anselmo Jimenez (a/k/a “Ansemo Jimenes”), and Alan A. Bannout, all of Brooklyn, and former NYPD Officer Orlando Garcia, of New York City.
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