September 19, 2008: Irvington resident Omar Shaheer Thomas, 31 years old, was sentenced by the Honorable Salem Vincent Ahto to consecutive life sentences on each murder. He imposed life without parole and a consecutive sentence of 18 years (on the robbery charge) in New Jersey State Prison, of which defendant must serve 85%before being released. Morris County Assistant Prosecutor John McNamara argued on behalf of the State that the defendant should be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole and consecutive sentences. The judge ruled in the State's favor on those issues.

The defendant was convicted on July 24, 2008 by a Morris County Jury of Two Counts of First Degree Felony Murder, Two Counts of First Degree Murder, One Count of First Degree Robbery, One Count of Second Degree Possession of a Firearm to use Unlawfully Against the Person of Another, One Count of Third Degree possession of a handgun without a permit to carry and One Count of First Degree employing a juvenile to commit a robbery.

During the trial, testimony revealed that on the morning of December 1, 2002, police responded to the FuncoLand game store in Roxbury, New Jersey to find two store employees had been shot and killed: Jefferson Township resident Jeffrey Eresman, age 21, and Netcong resident Eric Rewoldt, age 26. Numerous video games and video game systems were stolen from the store. A comprehensive and thorough investigation commenced and a task force was formed that included law enforcement personnel from the Morris County Prosecutor's Office, Roxbury Township Police Department, the Morris County Sheriff's Office, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, and the New Jersey State Police. The nearly year long investigation led to the November 17, 2003arrests of Omar Thomas and his two cousins, Rahman Allen Vaughn and Craig Allen Thomas Jr., a juvenile.

At the trial, the jury watched the defendant's multiple videotaped statements, in which he described travelling from Newark to Roxbury with his cousins for the purpose of robbing the game store. Jeffrey Eresman, the sole employee in the store at the time of the robbery, was brought at gunpoint to the rear of the store where he was shot in the head by Craig Allen Thomas. Omar Thomas then took the gun from the juvenile and fired a second, fatal shot into the head of Eresman. The defendants were in the process of bagging up merchandise from the store when Erik Rewoldt reported to work. Upon his entering the store, Omar Thomas shot Rewoldt in the head as he walked by, killing him instantly.

Prosecutor Bianchi stated "On December 1, 2002 a tragic and senseless murder of Jeffrey Eresman and Eric Rewoldt occurred. Today's sentencing brings a long awaited vindication to these crimes to the extent allowable under the law. Now, today, the life of this defendant has taken its turn for the worse, as he will pay for the remainder of his life for his heinous and cowardly actions. The fact that this defendant weighed the theft of some video games over the lives of these two victims is simply despicable.

The Morris County Prosecutor's Office is committed to ensuring justice for the families of senseless crime. While any sentence for crimes such as this is never enough to right the wrong, it brings me great pleasure to have been able to provide the resources and commitment to ensure that this defendant is made to pay the greatest price allowable under the law. My sympathies are extended to the families and it is my hope that this will bring some measure of closure to them. My special thanks go to Assistant Prosecutors John McNamara, Jr. and Peter Foy for an exceptional presentation of the evidence that led to these convictions."

This case was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutors John K. McNamara, Jr., Esq, and Peter J. Foy, Esq. The defendant is represented by David Glazer, Esq., and Michelle Abudato, Esq.

Media Contact: Agent Robyn D'Onofrio