5/19 – Neptune Man Pleads Guilty for Crime Spree

360

By John Burton
TRENTON – A Neptune man pleaded guilty in federal court today to charges he conducted a 24-hour crime spree in 2012 in five communities with offenses including robbing and shooting an Asbury Park cabdriver and an armed robbery at a Red Bank gas station.
Quam Wilson, 23, pleaded guilty to using a firearm during the commission of a crime and committing a Hobbs Act robbery, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The Hobbs Act is a federal law permitting the prosecution of an individual for obstructing, delaying or affecting commerce by robbery, extortion or the threats or acts of physical violence.
Wilson also admitted to committing additional armed robberies related to an 11-count federal indictment, the office said.
Authorities said, that starting at 5 a.m. on Nov. 13, 2012, Wilson shot a cabdriver in the head, took his identification, taxi keys, cash and bank debit card. The driver survived his injury.
Wilson then proceeded to a Shell gas station in Ocean Township, where he used a handgun to rob the attendant of cash and then fled.
Later that morning, Wilson attempted to get money from the cabdriver’s account at several banks in the area. At one location, a bank employee suspecting a theft was taking place, confiscated the identification and debit card and contacted police, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
At approximately 9 p.m. Wilson committed armed robbery at a taxi stand in Long Branch and during the early morning of Nov. 14, 2012, he robbed an Exxon Station in Red Bank at gunpoint. Shortly after that, Wilson walked into a Quick Check convenience store in Neptune, pointed his handgun at the cashier and demanded cash.
Police arrested Wilson at about 10 p.m. when he was discovered hiding in an attic in Asbury Park, authorities said.
Wilson is scheduled to appear in federal court on Sept. 3 for sentencing.