Vineland Burglary Defendant Draws Six Years Behind Bars

An extended burglary spree means six years in prison for Phillip W. Campos of Vineland. The 49-year-old was sentenced today in Ocean County Superior Court in Toms River for several 2012 lootings in Atlantic City and Absecon.

Campos will be ineligible for parole consideration for the first two and a half years of his term, under conditions issued by Judge Wendel E. Daniels.

According to information from the office of Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato, the Campos case was moved to Ocean County in light of a conflict in Atlantic County.

Campos had been charged on six files that extended from February 1, 2011 to May 18, 2012, authorities said. He pleaded guilty third-degree charges related to lootings of three businesses in January of this year, and admitted a fourth in April, authorities said.

Investigators said that DNA tied Campos to the burglaries that include the City Center Convenience Store, Jackson-Hewitt Tax Services and Formica Brothers Bakery in Atlantic City and Shore Point Pools in Absecon City.

Each case was a smash-and-grab, entry gained through broken windows to take any money that might be inside, authorities said.

Assistant Prosecutor Ehsan Chowdhry sought an extended sentence in light of Campos's criminal record that has its first entry in 1984, authorities said. Chowdhry sought eight years, with four years of parole ineligibility, restitution on victim request and no contact with victims.

Campos, who has been incarcerated since charges were filed, now has a June 6 appointment to answer a probation violation count issued in Atlantic County Superior Court.