Updated: Dec 15, 2022
By Barbara A. Preston | Posted December 12, 2022
The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office announced the arrest of professional Hollywood stunt man Michael Gaboff, 36, of Millstone on December 12 in connection with a Franklin Township bank robbery that occurred on Route 27 last summer.
Michael Gaboff
Gaboff, who has performed as a motorcycle stuntman, broke his lower back, pelvis, neck, both arms, ribs, collar bone, and also suffered collapsed lungs and second-degree burns while performing a stunt for a promotional video.
ABC's "Good Morning America" aired the video, which was used to promote the DVD release of the 2011 Nicholas Cage movie sequel, "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance." The stunt appears to have been executed without incident in the promotion. In fact, Gaboff nearly died when he overran a pond and dropped about six floors to a hard landing on the ground.
Sadly, Gaboff was a contractor with no health insurance at the time. It appears that his days as a stunt man may be over, on account of his injuries. Though, it now appears that he may have used a motorcycle to rob a local bank. (He is innocent until found guilty in a court of law.) Gaboff is accused of robbing the Chase Bank on Route 27, near South Middlebush Road in Franklin Township.
On Friday, December 2, with the assistance of the Newark FBI SWAT Team, agents from the FBI Newark – Franklin Township Resident Agency Office, members of the Franklin Township Police Department, members of the Monroe Township (Middlesex County) Police Department, members of the New Jersey State Police, and detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office executed a search warrant at Gaboff’ s residence in Millstone (Monmouth County).
Michael Gaboff (second from left). His family members were arrested and charged with 3rd degree Hindering. From left: Alan Gaboff, Michael Gaboff, Jesse Gaboff, and Sharon Gaboff.
Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald announced the arrest in a press release. McDonald stated that on August 22, 2022, at approximately 2:08 pm, Franklin Township Police Department received a call that a robbery had occurred at a bank located in the area of Route 27 in Franklin. It was reported that a man entered the bank wearing black shoes, black pants, black shirt, a black mask, and a black motorcycle helmet with goggles. He demanded money from multiple bank tellers. The bank tellers ultimately turned over an undisclosed amount of cash to the male based on his demands. He subsequently fled the scene on a black motorcycle.
Franklin Township police officers responded to the scene and canvassed the area in search of the suspect. Detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit joined the officers to conduct the investigation. Agents from the FBI Newark – Franklin Township Resident Agency Office assisted. As a result of the three-month investigation, police alleged that Gaboff is the individual who robbed the bank.
On December 2, as result of this investigation, defendant Michael Gaboff was arrested in Ocean Township. Gaboff was charged with 2nd degree Robbery and 2nd degree Conspiracy to Commit Robbery. Gaboff was transported to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s office for processing and subsequently lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing.
In addition, Gaboff's family members were also arrested on December 2. Each was charged with 3rd degree Hindering:
Alan Gaboff, 66, Millstone
Sharon Gaboff, 60, Millstone
Jesse Gaboff, 23, Millstone
Sharon, Alan, and Jesse were all processed and released pending a court appearance.
Prosecutor McDonald would like to thank the following agencies for their assistance in this investigation: the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the NJ State Police, Monroe Township Police Department, and the Princeton Police Department.
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Prosecutor McDonald, Chief Fodor, and Director Maeweather request anyone with information relating to this bank robbery to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 908.231.7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department at 732.873.5533 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 888.577.TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.
NOTE: The charges are merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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