Home Invasion Robbery Suspect Arrested

A SouthSide man who was the apparent ringleader in a home invasion robbery on Amplex Street a week ago has been charged in the crime though his accomplices remained at large as of Friday.

Anthony Figueroa-Rivera, 24, of 429 E. Third St., allegedly burst into the home at 1140 Amplex St. with three other men on Aug. 13, brandished a “large kitchen knife” and forced his victims to sit on the floor while his accomplices removed a number of items from the home, including a 50-inch flat screen television, cell phones, clothes, two pair of sneakers and numerous other electronic devices, according to an arrest affidavit.

The total value of the items taken was estimated at $2,500, according to the arrest warrant.

According to the warrant, the victims told police that when Figueroa-Rivera burst into their home, he yelled: “Where is the money? Someone stole $2,000 from my brother.”

The warrant also says that when he left the home, he told the victims: “If you tell anyone about this, I will kill you.”

Apparently not intimidated, the victims, Jose Martinez and Anthony Lanzot-Garcia, found a picture of their robber on Facebook, with his name, and reported that to , the warrant said.

Also according to the arrest warrant:

Police took the information provided by the victims and matched it to an arrest record for Figueroa-Rivera, which also identified him by a tattoo with the name “Kevin” on the right side of his neck.

Figueroa-Rivera was found on Mechanic Street shortly after noon on Friday and was arrested without incident.

After his arrest, Figueroa-Rivera consented to an interview with Bethlehem Police Det. Moses Miller during which he admitted to going to the Amplex Street house with the intent of getting $2,000 owed to him and his brother. He said he brought along the knife for “protection.”

Figueroa-Rivera admitted that he took $20 and some marijuana from the victims. He also admitted that others were with him, but he refused to identify them. He said he did observe another man remove a 50-inch flat screen television from the home while he was there.

Figueroa-Rivera was charged with robbery, theft and receiving stolen property, all felonies, in addition to the misdemeanors terroristic threats and reckless endangerment. He was committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $250,000 bail following his arraignment before