Old Bridge Woman Sentenced For Her Role In 2019 Elizabeth Fatal Shooting

Tuesday, December 10, 2024, 1:00 P.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

ELIZABETH, NJ.- Last week, a 44-year-old Old Bridge, New Jersey, woman learned that she would be spending nearly the next two decades in New Jersey State Prison for driving the car from a Colonia-based limousine company that brought an unknown individual to Elizabeth, New Jersey, so they could brutally shoot a 19-year-old man to death in October 2019.

     According to Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel, on Friday, December 6, 2024, Cheryle Lugo, 44, of Old Bridge, appeared in Union County Superior Court and was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Daniel Roberts to eighteen years in State Prison, subject to the No Early Release Act, which will require Lugo to serve 85% of her custodial term before becoming eligible for parole, for her previously entered guilty plea.

Lugo Enters Guilty Plea

     On October 15, 2024, Lugo appeared in Union County Superior Court and pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Murder in connection with the October 25, 2019, late-night shooting death of Jamile Robbins, 19, of Elizabeth, New Jersey.

     The sentence stems from an investigation that began on October 25, 2019, when, shortly after 11:30 p.m., members of the Elizabeth Police Department responded to the Oakwood Plaza Apartments following receiving reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, Police Officers found Mr. Robbins suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound. Mr. Robbins was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injury and was pronounced deceased a short time later.

     According to Union County Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Cho, during the investigation, Detectives concluded that Lugo was the driver of the vehicle that brought the shooter to the apartments. The shooter to date has not been identified and still remains at large.

     “While this sentence does not bring Mr. Robbins back, we hope it comes as some small solace to his loved ones,” said Union County Prosecutor Daniel. “I commend the dedicated efforts of Assistant Prosecutor Cho, UCPO Detective Richard Acosta, Elizabeth Police Detective Edward Pinkevicz, and all of the UCPO Homicide Task Force members who worked tirelessly on this case.”