A Mercer County man is facing serious federal charges in connection with a series of violent crimes that terrorized the local community.
Paul X. McNeil, 38, of Trenton, was arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including murder, robbery, and weapons charges.
Law enforcement officials in New Jersey say that the 38-year-old Trenton man has been charged with murder and related offenses after he, allegedly, robbed three businesses at gunpoint and, in one case, killed the owner of a marijuana dispensary.
According to federal prosecutors, McNeil allegedly targeted local businesses and individuals for their cash. The charges stem from three separate incidents:
Armed Robbery of Auto Recycling Shop: On September 30, 2022, McNeil and an accomplice allegedly stormed an auto recycling shop in Ewing, New Jersey.
McNeil and a coconspirator entered the shop. McNeil pointed a firearm at the employee before he and the coconspirator took from the employee approximately $150,000 of the shop’s cash proceeds and the employee’s lawfully registered firearm.
Armed with a firearm, they threatened employees and made off with approximately $150,000 in cash and a legally registered firearm belonging to one of the employees.
Later that day, McNeil purchased a new car, paying $9,500 in a down payment, comprised of ninety-five $100 bills.
Fatal Shooting of Cannabis Shop Owner: On August 10, 2023, the alleged violence escalated. McNeil is accused of following the owner of a Trenton cannabis shop to a residence in Lawrence Township.
Moments after the cannabis shop owner entered the residence, McNeil followed the owner into the residence and robbed the owner of the cannabis shop’s cash proceeds which the owner had carried into the residence.
As overheard by the cannabis owner’s spouse, who was in the residence, the owner stated to McNeil, “No, no, no … please, here, you can have it,” moments before McNeil shot and killed the owner with a firearm.
In addition to taking from the owner the cannabis shop’s cash proceeds, McNeil also took from the owner jewelry the owner was wearing at the time of the robbery.
Photographs recovered from McNeil’s cellphone depict McNeil wearing the owner’s jewelry, which was recovered later from McNeil’s vehicle.
Home Invasion Robbery: On September 23, 2023, McNeil allegedly broke into a Ewing residence, confronted three individuals, including two minors, and tied them up with zip ties.
The owner of the business was not in the residence at the time. McNeil pointed a handgun at the three victims and demanded money. McNeil then bound the victims’ hands behind their backs with zip ties and forced them at gunpoint into the basement, while he searched the residence.
McNeil took approximately $4,500 in cash proceeds from the house-flipping business as well as some personal items belonging to the business owner and the three victims.
Law enforcement later recovered from McNeil’s residence approximately $4,000 in cash and some of the personal items belonging to the business’s owner and the three victims.
“These charges allege that the defendant targeted several local business owners for robbery and murdered one of them,” said U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office, together with its federal and local law enforcement partners, will spare no effort to investigate and prosecute violent offenders who target the businesses and residents of New Jersey.”
If convicted on all charges, McNeil faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. The most serious charge, murder during and in relation to a crime of violence, carries a potential death penalty or life imprisonment.
Additionally, the firearm charges carry mandatory minimum sentences: 7 years for brandishing a firearm and 10 years for discharging a firearm.
These mandatory minimum sentences must be served consecutively to any other prison term.
The investigation into McNeil’s alleged crimes is ongoing, and federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies are working together to gather evidence and pursue justice for the victims.
The charges and allegations in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven 1 guilty.