Long Branch Man Sentenced For Armed Robbery of Undercover Police Officer

A Long Branch man was sentenced to a seven-year prison term on Friday, stemming from an incident where he robbed an undercover Long Branch police officer in November, 2009.

Bryan J. Loyo, 19, was arrested on Nov. 13 and was charged with several crimes including unlawful possession of a weapon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and disarming a law enforcement officer. Loyo plead guilty to all charges before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Anthony J. Mellaci, Jr. on Aug. 3, 2010.

The police officer was posing as a delivery driver when he was attacked by Loyo and and another man, who was later determined to be Aaron Pierre, 20, of Long Branch. Pierre was taken into custody hours after Loyo was arrested, and is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 25.

The undercover operation was part of an investigation into a string of incidents where delivery drivers were being robbed.

Under the No Early Release Act, Loyo must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence, or approximately six years, before he becomes eligible for parole or release.