“Keep your friends close; keep your enemies closer.” In this case, it appears that a friend was an undercover enemy the entire time.
Former UFC fighter Karl Roberson has been charged in connection to a robbery in New Jersey where police say over $200,000 of jewelry and valuables were stolen. Roberson is accused of targeting a childhood friend who is also an army veteran.
Ryan Leonard was about 18 years old when he met a then-14-year-old Roberson. Leonard knew him as a “humble person that wanted to be a great superstar athlete.”
However, Leonard’s thoughts on Roberson quickly changed after what occurred in December 2022. The 32-year-old Roberson was arrested on March 27 after police pulled him over in a vehicle that was connected to a burglary at Leonard’s Howell Township home the day after Christmas.
Authorities issued a press release that stated Roberson was being charged with burglary, theft, and criminal mischief as well as possession of a controlled dangerous substance and “several weapons offenses.”
“During the search officers found a defaced .9mm handgun with an extended magazine, several packages of suspected ‘crack cocaine,’ marijuana, and items related to the burglary,” authorities said.
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A second man was also arrested and charged with burglary, theft, and criminal mischief.
Leonard believes Roberson and Thompson targeted him while he was just about finished building and setting up his home.
The press release said Roberson and his accomplice allegedly pried open a rear door and once inside, made their way to the master bedroom where they allegedly located and stole over $200,000 in exotic jewelry and valuables. The suspects were captured on home security surveillance cameras both inside and outside the home.
The suspects were wearing masks at the time of the robbery. Burglary charges are considered a second or third-degree felony in New Jersey, depending on the severity of the crime, and carry a potential term of up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Roberson spent the better part of five years with the UFC after he joined the promotion following a win over Ryan Spann on the Contender Series. He ultimately put together a 4-6 record in the UFC before he made his exit in July 2022 following a fourth consecutive loss in the octagon.
Leonard is a U.S. Army veteran who is the founder and CEO of NJF Worldwide, a direct source manufacturing company.
“Before I had a dime to my name I could barely afford this, but I made myself a pair of boxing gloves with my logo on it for a sample and I made him a pair of gloves with his nickname on it, ‘Baby K,’ to say, ‘Hey man, this is from me to you. I don’t want anything for this. This is just something I want you to have. I’m proud of you.’
“Did whatever I could to support him, and lo and behold, the day after Christmas he basically lined me up.”
Leonard had his $80,000 Presidential Rolex stolen along with $60,000 in Cuban chains apiece and a $30,000 bracelet among other things. None of it has been recovered.
