Still more Criminal Masterminds.

Cops: Five robbed and hit man, then laughed about it

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Five men charged with robbing a lost man who spoke Spanish Monday night joked and kidded about the alleged crime while in police custody, reports said.

According to police reports, a 29-year-old Jersey City man flagged down a car at the corner of Academy Street and Baldwin Avenue to ask for directions to his Glenwood Avenue apartment.

When he spoke to the driver in Spanish, the five men in the car laughed at him and one of them got out of the Mercury Sable and punched the 29-year-old in the eye, reports said.

Then two other men got out of the car and punched and kicked the man before taking his wallet and cell phone, reports said.

Police officers found the five men in the Mercury at Summit and St. Paul's avenues, reports said.

The victim identified Angelo Maietta, 22, Stephen Roman, 23, and William Vega, 23, all of Jersey City, as his attackers, reports said. He also identified Nicholas Alongi, 20, of Bayonne, and Edward Serra, 20, of Jersey City, as the driver, police said.

The victim's cell phone was found in the car, and his wallet was recovered on Sip Avenue after Alongi told police where to look, reports said.

TOM SHORTELL