Lakewood Armed Robber Sentenced to Life Without Parole

Criminal activity prior to his guilty pleas to two armed robbery counts this past February sends a Lakewood man to prison for life without parole.

Antonio Jones, 46, was sentenced in Toms River under New Jersey's "Three Strikes Law," according to information from the office of Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato.

Jones admitted holding up a victim on the night of February 7, 2012.

Investigators said that the victim was confronted outside his home, that Jones matched the description given to police, and that Jones ran when confronted a half-hour later, seven blocks away from the scene.

Jones tossed a ski hat, leather jacket and a "novelty" handgun covered by a black sock, investigators said.

During processing, Jones was found to be carring a shekel that the victim said had been in his wallet for many years. Prosecutors built their case on the coin and on DNA matches to the jacket and a glove.

Jones has been in custody since his arrest, authorities said. According to authorites, Jones's prior record includes armed robbery and escape in Massachusetts, and robbery and assault in Connecticut..