MORRISTOWN, NJ (Morris County) – Three men from the Chicago, Illinois area were sentenced this week to incarceration after pleading guilty in connection to burglarizing homes in Chester and Mendham Township, Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp said.
Nicholas Costello, 26, and Sonny Costello, 28 were both sentenced on Wednesday and Tony Thomas, 28 was sentenced on Friday in state Superior Court, Morristown. The crimes took place April 6 and the men pleaded guilty in May.
The men were arrested after targeting one home in Mendham Township and one in Chester Township.
Nicholas and Sonny Costello were each sentenced to 270 days in the Morris County Correctional Facility after pleading guilty to two counts of fourth-degree conspiracy to commit theft. Thomas was sentenced to three years in New Jersey State Prison after pleading guilty to two counts of third-degree conspiracy to commit burglary and one count of fourth-degree receiving stolen property.
The investigation revealed that one suspect knocked on a home’s front door dressed in a safety/utility vest similar to those worn by electric company workers in hopes of distracting the occupant while an accomplice entered through another door.
“The public should be vigilant in being aware of these types of diversionary burglary schemes when an individual may pose as a utility worker and another individual enters a home to commit a crime,” Prosecutor Knapp said.
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By: Jay Edwards Follow on Twitter | Like on Facebook
