FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Raymond Worrall

PHONE: (201) 795-6400 Ext. 6737

EMAIL: rworrall@hcpo.org

DATE: Monday, January 9, 2017

BLOOMFIELD MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:

On Friday, January 6, 2017, Superior Court Judge Patrick Arre sentenced John DeRosa of Bloomfield, to life in state prison for the murder of Xavier Egoavil. The murder occurred on August 18, 2009 during an armed robbery of Egoavil’s family jewelry store on Kearny Avenue in Kearny. DeRosa was also sentenced to 20 years for armed robbery and 10 years for unlawful possession of a handgun. The sentences will run concurrently. DeRosa, age 58, will not be eligible for parole until he is 121 years old.

On October 27, 2016, a Hudson County jury found DeRosa guilty of Murder, Felony Murder, Armed Robbery, Unlawful Possession of a Handgun and Possession of a Handgun for an Unlawful Purpose.

DeRosa’s co-defendants in this case, Bloomfield residents Edmir Sokoli and Elvis Feratovic, are scheduled for sentencing on January 20, 2017 before Judge Arre. Sokoli and Feratovic pleaded guilty to the armed robbery of Egoavil’s jewelry store in April 2016.

The case was investigated by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit and the Kearny Police Department. The State was represented by Assistant Prosecutor Leonardo Rinaldi of the Homicide Unit.