Marcelo Velez
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the conviction of MARCELO VELEZ, 59, formerly of Woodcliff Lake, NJ, in connection with the aggravated sexual assault of a child that occurred on January 2, 2021. After a three-week trial that began in October 2024 before the Honorable James X. Sattely, P.J.Cr. in Bergen County Superior Court, the defendant was found guilty. Sentencing is scheduled for January 24, 2025.
On Sunday, January 3, 2021, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit received information from the Woodcliff Lake Police Department regarding an alleged sexual assault of a child. The investigation revealed that MARCELO VELEZ engaged in sexual acts with a child under the age of 13 in his residence in Woodcliff Lake. VELEZ was subsequently arrested by detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and the Woodcliff Lake Police Department on charges related to the sexual assault.
On October 29, 2024, a jury convicted MARCELO VELEZ of aggravated sexual assault, two counts of sexual contact, and endangering the welfare of a child by engaging in sexual conduct. The mandatory minimum sentence range in this matter is between 25 years to life imprisonment in the custody of the New Jersey Department of Corrections, with no parole eligibility pursuant to New Jersey’s Lunsford Act.
At trial, the State was represented by Assistant Prosecutors Natalie Candela and Bethany Ventola of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office (“BCPO”). They were assisted by Detective James Paolozzi of the BCPO Major Crimes Unit and Detective Diane DaSilva of the BCPO Special Victims Unit, as well as BCPO Victim Advocate Angi Mejia-Valerio. The defendant was represented by Brian Neary, Esq. and Danielle Ciniello, Esq. of the Law Offices of Brian Neary, Esq. and Maury Winkler, Esq.
Prosecutor Musella thanks Assistant Prosecutor Natalie Candela and Assistant Prosecutor Bethany Ventola for their countless hours of preparation and their zealous advocacy for the young victim in this case. Prosecutor Musella also commends Detective James Paolozzi, Detective Diane DaSilva, and the members of the Woodcliff Lake Police Department for their care, skill, and professionalism in investigating this matter.
