The theft happened on Thursday, May 28, after the Clifton resident arranged to sell his motorcycle through Facebook Marketplace, according to Clifton Police Lt. Robert Anderson.

Police said the seller met two men at the Main Memorial Library to complete what he believed was an $11,500 sale.

During the transaction, the suspects handed the victim an envelope they claimed contained $11,500 in cash, Anderson said. As the victim opened the envelope, one suspect rode away on the 2011 BMW motorcycle while the other fled in the vehicle they had arrived in.

The envelope contained counterfeit paper currency, police said.

Detective Ricky Juliano identified the suspects as Hakeem Rafael Cezaire, 23, of Southampton, PA, and Marcly Jea-Paul, 22, of Warminster, PA, according to Anderson.

Arrest warrants were issued for both men. Cezaire was taken into custody by Warminster Township police on Friday, June 5, and later extradited to New Jersey. On Monday, June 8, Southampton police recovered the stolen motorcycle at Cezaire’s home and arranged for it to be returned to its owner, Anderson said.

Jea-Paul surrendered to Clifton police on Tuesday, June 23.

Both men were charged with forgery, theft by deception, theft of movable property and theft of a motor vehicle. They were turned over to the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Hub pending their first court appearances.

Clifton police thanked the Warminster Township and Southampton police departments for assisting in the investigation.


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