Federal authorities led by acting District Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba have announced a wave of arrests in which hundreds accused of chilling, serious crimes were nabbed.
Federal authorities have apprehended 264 wanted criminals in the state as part of an ongoing operation known as “Operation Apex Hammer.” Among those arrested were two illegal immigrants wanted for sex crimes, as well as suspects tied to murder, robbery, and sexual offenses—including crimes against children, the New York Post reported.
According to federal officials, the arrests include 17 individuals wanted for homicide and 95 known gang members, several of whom face charges related to serious violent and sexual offenses.
The outlet said that Habba, along with U.S. Marshal Juan Mattos Jr., called the collaboration among federal, state, and local law enforcement “a major success in combating violent crime and restoring public safety.”
“We are doing multiple cases at once to make sure that we clean up as quickly as possible,” Habba told Fox News of the operation in June. “Violent crime is number one. It is very clear from this administration. That is all we’re focused on.”
At least two of the suspects taken into custody were illegal immigrants, according to police sources who spoke to The Post.
Collectively, the 264 individuals had a staggering 2,625 prior arrests—averaging about 10 each, officials noted.
One of them, 54-year-old Lorenzo Benitez, an illegal immigrant from Guatemala, was arrested on June 4 in Plainfield, NJ. He faces multiple sexual assault charges in Keansburg, law enforcement officials said.
Darlin Franco-Guzman, 25, an illegal immigrant from Honduras, was wanted in Baltimore County, Maryland, on charges of burglary and the attempted sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl. He was arrested on June 10 in Trenton, according to officials, The Post said.
The remaining fugitives were wanted for a range of violent crimes, including kidnapping, sexual assault, and murder in a drive-by shooting.
Stephen Bullock, 32, was arrested on June 13 for allegedly kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 76-year-old woman in Camden County. Shawn Davis, 38, was taken into custody in Brooklyn in connection with a 2024 homicide in Trenton, officials said.
Luis Duval-Jimenez, 31, was wanted for allegedly running over a police officer in South Brunswick this past May. On June 19, Trasuf Bennett, 20, and an unidentified juvenile accomplice were arrested for the drive-by shooting death of a 20-year-old man in Millville, N.J., according to authorities.
Francisco Ruiz, 67, was wanted on multiple charges, including sexual assault by contact, terroristic threats, endangering the welfare of a child, and criminal restraint, according to officials. He was arrested on June 20 in Bayonne.
During the course of the operation, officers also recovered 14 illegal firearms.
“We are doing multiple cases at once to make sure that we clean up as quickly as possible. Violent crime is number one. It is very clear from this administration. That is all we’re focused on. So, the politics are done now, and it’s honestly been amazing being here,” Habba told Fox News last month during one Operation Apex Hammer sweep.
Habba and her team had positioned themselves in anticipation of a key target emerging from a residence to surrender—but the suspect never appeared. Instead, three migrants, all reportedly in the country illegally, exited the home.
Fox reported that the search for a TDA suspect remains ongoing. “He is a gang member of Tren de Aragua. But they think they have rights here that they just don’t have. You are a criminal you need to get out,” Habba, who is President Donald Trump’s former personal attorney, told the outlet.
“Operation Apex Hammer is also targeting U.S. citizens with arrest warrants including a New Jersey woman who police say recently shot at least two people. Also, one man who was wanted for aggravated assault was arrested by the team,” Fox reported.
