Police Arrest Five Suspected of Armed Robbery

VILLAS – Five individuals have been arrested as a result of a joint investigation involving an armed robbery, according to the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office and Lower Township Police Chief William Mastriana.
On Sept. 21 at approximately 12:40 p.m., members of the Lower Township Police Department responded to a disturbance in the area of Ellery and Franklin Ave. in the Villas section of Lower Township. Upon arrival, officers located a 23-year-old male lying in the street suffering from facial contusions. The victim was transported to Cape Regional Medical Center where he was treated and released.
The victim advised officers that he had been “pistol whipped” and robbed of $800 at gunpoint, by two unknown males, while visiting a friend in the area of Ellery and Franklin Ave. As a result of this information, the Lower Township Patrol Officers stopped two vehicles that had left the area of the assault. The first vehicle was being operated by Kristopher Hill, 34, of Glenolden, Pa., was found to contain three handguns and 25 bags of suspected heroin from inside the vehicle.
The second vehicle was occupied by Desiree Sangillo, 38, of the 200 block of West Atlantic Ave., Villas and Shawn Shuman, 34, also of the 200 block of West Atlantic Ave.
A further investigation by the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office, the Lower Township and Middle Township Police Departments, resulted in the execution of a court authorized search warrant by the Cape May County Regional SWAT team in the 600 block of Millman Road in the Del Haven section of Middle Township. The search warrant resulted in the seizure of another handgun and additional amounts of heroin, prescription pills, currency, drug paraphernalia and the recovery of items that were taken from the victim. Arrested at the scene were Jermaine Mills, 37, of the Green Creek section of Middle Township and Destyn Harper, 28, of Wildwood.
Arrested as a result of this investigation were:
Jermaine Mills, 37, of the 500 Block of Route 47, Green Creek, was charged with robbery, a crime of the first degree, aggravated assault, a crime of the third degree, and numerous weapons offenses. Mills was lodged in the Cape May County Correctional Center in lieu of $250,000 full cash bail.
Destyn Harper, 28, of the 300 Block of West Andrews Avenue, Wildwood, was charged with robbery, a crime of the first degree, aggravated assault, a crime of the third degree, and numerous weapons offenses. Harper was lodged in the Cape May County Correctional Center in lieu of $250,000 full cash bail.
Kristopher Hill, 34, of the 100 Block of Cooke Avenue, Glenholden, Pa., was charged with unlawful possession of a handgun, possession of a firearm while committing drug crimes, possession of hollow point bullets, possession of CDS with the intent to distribute, and possession of a hypodermis needle. Hill was lodged in the Cape May County Correctional Center in lieu of $200,000 full cash bail.
Desiree Sangillo, 38, of the 200 Block of West Atlantic Avenue, Villas, was charged with conspiracy to commit robbery, a crime of the second degree. Sangillo was lodged in the Cape May County Correctional Center in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Shawn Shuman, 34, of the 200 Block of West Atlantic Avenue, Villas, was charged with conspiracy to commit robbery, a crime of the second degree. Shuman was lodged in the Cape May County Correctional Center in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Prosecutor Taylor advises that persons convicted of a first degree crime are subject to a term of imprisonment of up to 10 to 20 years in New Jersey State Prison. Prosecutor Taylor commented that his office is committed to fighting the war on drugs and violence and ultimately seek out the individuals who are responsible for distributing these dangerous drugs in the community.
Prosecutor Taylor stated that prescription pills have become a “gateway drug” to heroin and the increase in prescription drug abuse is fueling a rise in heroin addiction. Prosecutor Taylor continues to urge the citizens of Cape May County to report any information regarding illegal drug activity and or any criminal activity within community and that this information can be reported anonymously through the Cape May County Sheriffs Tip Line at cmcsheriff.net and click on anonymous tip, or through the Cape May County Crime Stoppers at 609-465-2800 or 877-465-2801, Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-465-1168.
These charges are merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.