An Monmouth County man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges of armed robbery and kidnapping in connection with November 2016 Neptune Township and Asbury Park crimes, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced on Friday.

Hakiem K. Wadud, 26, of Asbury Park, was handed a sentence of 18 years by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Ellen Torregossa-O’Connor.

Wadud pleaded guilty on May 25 to first-degree armed robbery and first-degree kidnapping. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Wadud must serve 85 percent of the sentence, or roughly 15 years and 4 months, before any possible release on parole pursuant to the “No Early Release Act” (NERA). He will also be under parole supervision for five years following his release from state prison.

The case background … 

On November 13, 2016 at 11 p.m., Neptune Township police responded to a call reporting a man with a gun at the Wawa convenience store located at Routes 35 and 33 in the township.

A joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Neptune Township Police Department, and Asbury Park Police Department revealed that the robbery culminated at the Wawa but began in Asbury Park when Wadud entered a car belonging to the victims.

Shortly after entering the vehicle, Wadud, brandishing a firearm, demanded money from both occupants. After taking the money, he directed the driver to take him to the Wawa in Neptune Township so one of the victims could access his bank account for more money.  Once at Wawa, the suspect accompanied both of the victims into the store and fled shortly thereafter.

Police were again called to the Wawa in Neptune early the next day at about 4 a.m., when Wadud returned to the convenience store. A Bradley Beach police officer, who happened to be shopping there at that time, approached Wadud and detained him until Asbury Park and Neptune Township police officers arrived on scene to take him into custody.

— Edited press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office