Prosecutor: Two Rumson Men Arrested on 2025 Arson-For-Hire Charges

The following is an edited press release from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office …

Two Rumson men have been arrested and are facing charges stemming from an investigation into a 2025 arson-for-hire scheme.

Rumson residents Anthony V. Coviello, 54, and Joseph Vulpis, 62, along with 66-year-old Upper Saddle River resident, Emad. E. Gerges were arrested as the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Jeff Angermeyer, and the Upper Saddle River Police Department, under the direction of Chief Patrick Rotella, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced on Oct. 19.

The case background …

On May 16, 2025, at approximately 2:23 p.m., the Upper Saddle River Police Department and the Upper Saddle River Fire Department responded to a residential structure fire on Lake Road in Upper Saddle River. Upon arrival, first responders observed the residence engulfed in flames. The fire was ultimately extinguished by the Upper Saddle River Fire Department, with mutual-aid assistance provided by fire departments from nearby municipalities. Following a preliminary investigation by fire officials, the cause and origin of the fire were classified as undetermined.

On April 27, 2026, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad received information from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Rumson Police Department regarding the fire that occurred on Lake Road in Upper Saddle River. Consequently, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad initiated a joint investigation with the Upper Saddle River Police Department, while assisted by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Rumson Police Department.

The months-long joint investigation revealed that Coviello and Vulpis were allegedly hired by Gerges to intentionally set fire to the residence on Lake Road in Upper Saddle River in May of 2025. Detectives determined that on May 16, 2025, Coviello and Vulpis allegedly entered the residence and utilized an accelerant, along with a homemade ignitor, to set fire to the attic of the home.

As a result of the investigation, on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office found and arrested Coviello at his Rumson residence On that same day, Vulpis surrendered to authorities at the Englishtown Police Department in Englishtown.

Coviello and Vulpis were each charged with: first-degree arson for hire, N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1d; second-degree aggravated arson, N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1a(2); second-degree conspiracy to commit aggravated arson, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1)/2C:17-1a(2); third-degree arson, N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1b(2); third-degree criminal mischief, N.J.S.A. 2C:17-3a(1); and fourth-degree failure to control or report a fire, N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1c(2). Both men were remanded to the Bergen County Jail, made a first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, and were subsequently released pending further court action.

On Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, Gerges was found and arrested with assistance from the Saddle River Police Department. Gerges was charged with: first-degree arson for hire, N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1d; and second-degree conspiracy to commit aggravated arson, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1)/2C:17-1a(2). Gerges was remanded to the Bergen County Jail, made a first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, and was subsequently released pending further court action.