Federal agents finally caught up with a fugitive Trinidadian bandit who stole $150,000 from a New Jersey steakhouse then vanished without a trace 15 years ago, officials said.
Kofi Edwards, 51, was caught living under a fake name in California — years after his violent armed robbery of Michael’s Steakhouse in Woodbridge on St. Patrick’s Day 2009 which earned him a place on the FBI’s “Most Wanted” list.
Edwards, of Trinidad and Tobago, and another man allegedly busted into the restaurant, waved guns around and demanded cash before zip-tying three employees and taking off, according to a statement from New Jersey US Attorney Philip Sellinger.
FBI agents finally caught up to him him July 9 in Sacramento after the agency received a tip that he could be in the area, according to a statement from the FBI’s Newark Field Office.
Edwards — who was indicted in 2014 for the crime — has been charged with conspiracy to commit armed Hobbs Act robbery, one count of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
He faces more than 20 years in federal prison. He pleaded not guilty in Newark federal court Monday and was remanded to federal custody, authorities said.
The feds said Edwards conspired with three other people to rob the steakhouse — calling an inside man ahead of the heist to see if the managers were working that day, officials said.
The group knew that only managers could open the safe, Sellinger said. So once they learned one was working, they hit the restaurant.
Edwards carried a fake gun, while one of his partners-in-crime brandished a real firearm, the US Attorney said.
They allegedly seized the cash, then took off.
His compatriots have already been convicted and sentenced for their crimes, Sellinger said.
But the FBI has been hunting for Edwards for years — even offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information that might lead to his arrest.
Besides the robbery charges, Edwards faces a mandatory seven-year prison sentence for the gun charge — but it could stretch to life in prison, the feds said.
Each count also carries a hefty fine of up to $250,000.
Neither Edwards’ attorney, Vincent LaPaglia, nor the steakhouse’s owner returned a request for comment.
