3 men charged in alleged arson-for-hire plot that destroyed Bergen County home
The suspects entered the home and used an accelerant paired with a homemade ignitor to spark the blaze in the attic.
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Three men have been arrested and charged in connection with an arson-for-hire plot that leveled a home in Bergen County last year.
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office announced the arrests of Anthony V. Coviello, 54, and Joseph Vulpis, 62, both of Rumson, along with Emad E. Gerges, 66, of Upper Saddle River.
The investigation dates back to May 16, 2025, when local police and fire departments responded to a house fire on Lake Road in Upper Saddle River. First responders found the home completely engulfed in flames. The fire was extinguished with mutual aid from neighboring towns, but an initial investigation left the cause and origin undetermined.
The case took a turn nearly a year later, on April 27, 2026, when the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad received new information from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Rumson Police Department. Authorities say a months-long joint investigation revealed that Gerges had hired Coviello and Vulpis to intentionally set fire to the Lake Road property.
Detectives say Coviello and Vulpis entered the home on the day of the fire and used an accelerant and a homemade igniter to start the blaze in the attic.
Coviello was arrested at his Rumson home on Oct. 2, 2026, while Vulpis surrendered to authorities in Englishtown the same day. Both men face charges including first-degree arson for hire, second-degree aggravated arson and conspiracy.
Following further investigation, Gerges was arrested on Oct. 16 with assistance from the Saddle River Police Department and charged with first-degree arson for hire and second-degree conspiracy.
