December 23, 2015
An Atco man could spend the rest of his life in a New Jersey state prison after he was convicted in connection to a string of 2011 home invasion robberies targeting small business owners, Camden County prosecutors announced Wednesday.
Keith V. Cuff, Jr., 29, was found guilty by a jury of two counts of first-degree robbery, three counts of first-degree kidnapping, one count of second-degree conspiracy, and one count of second-degree burglary, in addition to multiple weapons offenses.
The conviction stems from four separate incidents in which Cuff, joined by accomplice Jerome M. Thomas, broke into residences with assistance from other masked men participating in the crimes.
Cuff and Thomas first broke into a Cherry Hill home on February 28, 2011, restraining two teenage girls with zip ties and threatening their parents at gunpoint. The parents were then restrained while the masked men stole cash and fled from the scene.
Several days later, on March 3, Cuff and Thomas attacked a man at his home in Winslow Township, striking the victim with a gun before leading him to his backyard, stealing his cash and fleeing in his vehicle.
On March 29, police in Gloucester County stopped a car being driven by Thomas, who fled from the vehicle. Authorities were able to recover Cuff's cell phone, two handguns and several masks and zip ties. Thomas, who was charged for offenses related to the traffic stop, was later released on bail.
Finally, on April 3, Cuff and Thomas broke into a Winslow home and tied up a man, his girlfriend and two children before stealing approximately $60,000 from a safe at the home.
Thomas, 41, of Lindenwold, is currently serving a 15-year sentence for robbery charges from a previous federal case. Two other accomplices – Donte Goree, 29, of Camden, and Abdul Musa-Mansaray, 33, of Sicklerville – pleaded guilty to charges connected to their participation in the crimes. Goree, a driver in one of the home invasions, was sentenced to five years in state prison. Musa-Mansarary, who drove for one robbery and helped plan another, will be sentenced January 8.
Camden County Assistant Prosecutor Victoria Shilton linked Cuff to the home invasions by presenting DNA evidence and cell phone records. After his original arrest in 2012, Cuff now faces a maximum of 100 years in state prison and will be sentenced January 28.
