Howell, N.J. – Former UFC fighter Karl Roberson has been charged in connection with a burglary at the home of his childhood friend Ryan Leonard in Howell, New Jersey.
According to the Howell Township (N.J.) Police Department, Roberson, 32, along with co-conspirator Dathan Thompson, also 32, broke into the home on West Farms Road on December 26, 2022.
Roberson and Thompson are accused of stealing more than $200,000 in “exotic jewellery and valuables”.
In an interview with Fox News, victim Leonard said the burglars made off with his $80,000 Rolex Presidential watch, $60,000 worth of Cuban chains and a $30,000 bracelet, among other items.
Leonard said he’d known Roberson since he was 18 and the fighter was 14, both having grown up in nearby Neptune, New Jersey.
Leonard is a US Army veteran who served in Iraq from 2009 to 2010 and later found success with his product development, sourcing and supply chain management company, NJF Worldwide.
Roberson experienced his own come-from-behind story as a kickboxer turned mixed martial artist who, in 2017, earned a coveted spot in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), mixed martial arts’ most famous league.
However, his success had recently taken a turn for the worse.After a promising start in the UFC, COVID’s postponements, health issues and a few missed weigh-ins seemed to turn the tide for the fighter from 2020 onwards.
In July 2022, after four consecutive losses, the UFC released Roberson.
Howell Township detectives said they used “advanced training in technical applications” as well as mobile phone data analysis to investigate the home burglary.
Leonard told Fox News that he recognised the pink shoes worn by one of the suspects in home surveillance video of the burglary as Thompson’s. He said Thompson had travelled the world with Roberson as his “right-hand man”.
Despite initially not believing police when they suggested Roberson might be involved, Leonard said he eventually realised the body language of the burglar – who, along with the other suspect, was wearing a hoodie, face mask and gloves – matched that of his friend.
“I couldn’t turn it off as much as I wanted to,” Leonard told Fox News. He believes Roberson was able to map out the house from before and after pictures he sent him as it was being built.
On 27 March, Roberson was arrested during a motor vehicle stop in Neptune.
Police said he was driving a car linked to the burglary. During a search of the vehicle, officers found a “defaced 9mm handgun with an extended magazine,” suspected packages of crack cocaine and other items related to the burglary.
Roberson has been charged with burglary, theft, criminal mischief, possession of a controlled dangerous substance and several weapons charges.
Thompson, who was arrested without incident at his home on the same day as Roberson, faces charges of burglary, theft and criminal mischief.
