El Faro Latino investigates possible judicial abuse in the case of Hispanic man sentenced to thirty years in New Jersey

Trenton, NJ:  El Faro Latino has launched an independent journalistic investigation into the criminal case of Audberto Egipciaco, a prosecution that originated between 2001 and 2002 in Camden County, New Jersey. The case presents multiple elements that raise concerns about the integrity of the judicial process, the correct application of the law and the equal treatment of defendants.

The complaint was submitted to our newsroom by Isidora Lado, who identifies herself as the defendant’s partner and who has accompanied the case for the past seven years. Lado submitted a significant number of official documents, including judicial certifications, court orders, legal correspondence and filings sent to state courts. Her request is clear. She asks this newspaper to examine the case file because, she argues, the defendant does not understand English, did not comprehend the legal documents he signed and has faced multiple barriers in obtaining adequate legal assistance.

According to the documents reviewed, the case originated between 2001 and 2002 following an incident that occurred in the parking lot of the Pathmark supermarket in Camden County. The prosecution alleged that the event was related to an attempted robbery and that Egipciaco, together with another defendant, had participated in the incident. The grand jury issued fourteen charges connected to the initial accusation, including possession of a weapon and participation in the robbery.

During the co defendant’s trial, several of those charges were dismissed, yet Egipciaco was ultimately convicted on other elements of the case. He received a thirty year sentence without the possibility of parole under a charge of endangering the welfare of a child, even though the family argues that the case does not involve any minor or sexual offense. The defendant remains incarcerated at Southwood State Prison, located at 215 S Burlington Street, Bridgeton, New Jersey.

The initial documents reviewed by this newspaper reveal significant inconsistencies. In an order issued on March 11, 2025, Judge Michael E. Joyce rejected a petition filed by Egipciaco without holding an evidentiary hearing. The denial occurred despite the defendant’s argument that his sentence is illegal and does not match the original charges issued by the grand jury.

In the certification submitted to the court, Egipciaco states that the original indictment contained fourteen charges and that the co defendant, William Reyes, faced a longer sentence. According to the documentation, Reyes was released after serving approximately seven years, while Egipciaco received a thirty year sentence without the possibility of parole. This difference in the treatment of both defendants is one of the elements that El Faro Latino will investigate closely.

The documents submitted by Audberto Egipciaco also claim that counts four and six were dismissed during the co defendant’s trial in September 2002. However, according to the complaint, those same charges later appeared on the verdict sheet attributed to Egipciaco.

The certification argues that the State never presented a weapon as evidence, yet charges were manipulated to obtain a conviction. The defendant explains that the statute used to sentence him, related to child abuse and neglect under NJS 9 6-3, was incorrectly applied because the case does not involve minors or sexual offenses.

Fragments of visual evidence related to the incident in the Pathmark supermarket parking lot were also reviewed. The quality is limited, but the family maintains that there are inconsistencies between the videos and the official narrative. This newspaper will request the original evidence through formal procedures.

Another element noted in the documents submitted to our newsroom is the alleged administrative obstruction in the Appellate Division. Filings sent by the defendant claim that the motions submitted were not entered into the docket, that some were never officially stamped and that others were reclassified as untimely post conviction petitions when, according to the defense, they were motions to correct an illegal sentence. The complainant also states that Judge Summers allegedly rejected a motion for his recusal that identified him as partial, a decision that generated new concerns regarding judicial transparency.

According to the documentation and the letter sent from prison by the defendant himself, Egipciaco has been incarcerated for more than two decades. The case dates back to 2001 and 2002, and his appeal remains active. In his letter addressed to El Faro Latino, Egipciaco states that he signed documents without understanding them due to his limited proficiency in English. He also claims that the State has withheld documents he submitted since last year and that he has not been assigned an attorney to continue his appeal.

Based on the preliminary review of this set of documents, El Faro Latino has concluded that there are sufficient indications of possible procedural and administrative irregularities to justify a serious and independent investigation. In the coming days, our team will request a complete copy of the case file from the State of New Jersey, including original trial transcripts, recordings, official evidence, the grand jury indictment, sentencing orders, the records of co defendant William Reyes and all administrative communications related to the case.

El Faro Latino will keep the community informed about the progress of this investigation. This process is just beginning and will be carried out with the rigor, transparency and responsibility that our journalistic mission demands. Wherever there is reasonable doubt about the administration of justice, there will be journalism.