Trooper Moises Hernandez aiding drug dealers

[KC]

04/27/2006 - ELIZABETH -- A state trooper pleaded guilty to racketeering and other charges today, admitting he aided members of a Union County drug ring.

Detective Sgt. Moises Hernandez, who was suspended without pay in June, will be fired and faces up to 24 years in state prison when sentenced July 14, authorities said.

"It is sad to think that a law enforcement officer would sink to such low conduct but we commend the leadership of our State Police for working relentlessly with our detectives to eliminate this cancer from their ranks,'' Union County Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow said.

Hernandez, of Union Township, who served for 19 years, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine, witness tampering, money laundering and official misconduct.

Under oath before state Superior Court Judge Joseph Donohue, Hernandez outlined a series of crimes that began in January 2002, when he began funneling drug proceeds into checking accounts to make the money appear like legitimate business funds.

Hernandez said his crimes continued until last month, when he threatened to kill witnesses who were providing information about him to authorities, the prosecutor's office said.

Romankow said the investigation, which involved months of surveillance, undercover detective work and wiretaps, is continuing.

Hernandez and over a dozen others, including his wife Tina, were charged last year in connection with trafficking multiple kilograms of cocaine from Colombia.

[Tom Rowan]

New Jersey Ex-Trooper Gets 24-Year Sentence for Involvement With Drug Gang Sign In to E-Mail This Print Reprints Save

By JOHN HOLL
Published: July 15, 2006
ELIZABETH, N.J., July 14 — During his 19 years as a trooper in the New Jersey State Police, Moises Hernandez received a long list of commendations, including one for helping to save the lives of several fellow officers in 2004 during a shootout with suspected drug dealers.

But at the same time that he was pursuing dealers as a narcotics detective, he acknowledged on Friday, he was working for a Colombia-based drug gang that the authorities say was responsible for bringing almost $6 million in cocaine and heroin into the United States every day.
Mr. Hernandez was sentenced on Friday to 24 years in prison. He pleaded guilty in the spring to conspiracy, money laundering, drug possession and official misconduct for his role in divulging privileged information about a narcotics case to drug dealers.

Mr. Hernandez became involved with the gang after he befriended an informant who worked in the drug ring. To hide his actions, he filed false reports to his supervisors, investigators said.

“He compromised his badge for greed,” said Theodore J. Romankow, the Union County prosecutor, noting that Mr. Hernandez had bought a $98,000 Mercedes-Benz and other things with drug money.
Dressed in a blue business suit, the former trooper, who is 40, stood handcuffed to four other inmates as he addressed the court before his sentencing. He said the pressures of his job, coupled with a strenuous schedule and personal weakness, contributed to his downfall.

“I did not value life, but I did not have the opportunity to seek help,” he said, choking back tears. “I am truly 100 percent remorseful. I dishonored my badge.”

He closed his statement by saying that “in my heart I will always be a state trooper.”
In September 2005, Mr. Hernandez, of Union, N.J., and 20 other people were charged for their roles in the ring that smuggled cocaine from Colombia and distributed it throughout the metropolitan area and Pittsburgh.

The ring, headed by Alejandro Cleves — who fled New Jersey and is believed by authorities to be hiding in Colombia — was bringing up to six kilograms of cocaine and heroin into the United States every day. Each kilo is worth anywhere from $750,000 to $1 million on the street, the authorities said.

Mr. Romankow, the prosecutor, said an investigation had revealed that Mr. Hernandez gave the suspects confidential information about specific undercover vehicles being used in surveillance operations.

Assistant Prosecutor Julie Peterman said that Mr. Hernandez helped the drug gang distribute 10 kilos of cocaine — about 100,000 vials — to dealers in Union County.

In court, Mr. Hernandez’s lawyer, Raymond M. Brown of Woodbridge, N.J., sought to have the sentence reduced, and called the former officer “one of the most extraordinary and complex human beings I have ever met.”

But Judge Joseph P. Donohue said that Mr. Hernandez had risked police officers’ lives and darkened their public image.

“You thought you were a prince of the city, that you could do what you wish and that you were above the law,” Judge Donohue said before sentencing Mr. Hernandez. In addition to prison, Mr. Hernandez must pay $580 in fines and surrender his car and $58,000 in savings.

His wife and other family members were in court but declined to comment after the sentencing.

Mr. Hernandez’s former wife, Sonia Choto, with whom he has a son, said she was pleased with the sentence. “He never spent time with his son,” she said. “I guess he was too busy dealing drugs, doing illegal activities.”

[Tom Rowan]

New Jersey Ex-Trooper Gets 24-Year Sentence for Involvement With Drug Gang

www.nytimes.com/2006/07/15/nyregion/15trooper.html

By JOHN HOLL
Published: July 15, 2006
ELIZABETH, N.J., July 14 — During his 19 years as a trooper in the New Jersey State Police, Moises Hernandez received a long list of commendations, including one for helping to save the lives of several fellow officers in 2004 during a shootout with suspected drug dealers.

But at the same time that he was pursuing dealers as a narcotics detective, he acknowledged on Friday, he was working for a Colombia-based drug gang that the authorities say was responsible for bringing almost $6 million in cocaine and heroin into the United States every day.

Mr. Hernandez was sentenced on Friday to 24 years in prison. He pleaded guilty in the spring to conspiracy, money laundering, drug possession and official misconduct for his role in divulging privileged information about a narcotics case to drug dealers.

Mr. Hernandez became involved with the gang after he befriended an informant who worked in the drug ring. To hide his actions, he filed false reports to his supervisors, investigators said.

“He compromised his badge for greed,” said Theodore J. Romankow, the Union County prosecutor, noting that Mr. Hernandez had bought a $98,000 Mercedes-Benz and other things with drug money.

Dressed in a blue business suit, the former trooper, who is 40, stood handcuffed to four other inmates as he addressed the court before his sentencing. He said the pressures of his job, coupled with a strenuous schedule and personal weakness, contributed to his downfall.

“I did not value life, but I did not have the opportunity to seek help,” he said, choking back tears. “I am truly 100 percent remorseful. I dishonored my badge.”

He closed his statement by saying that “in my heart I will always be a state trooper.”

In September 2005, Mr. Hernandez, of Union, N.J., and 20 other people were charged for their roles in the ring that smuggled cocaine from Colombia and distributed it throughout the metropolitan area and Pittsburgh.

The ring, headed by Alejandro Cleves — who fled New Jersey and is believed by authorities to be hiding in Colombia — was bringing up to six kilograms of cocaine and heroin into the United States every day. Each kilo is worth anywhere from $750,000 to $1 million on the street, the authorities said.

Mr. Romankow, the prosecutor, said an investigation had revealed that Mr. Hernandez gave the suspects confidential information about specific undercover vehicles being used in surveillance operations.

Assistant Prosecutor Julie Peterman said that Mr. Hernandez helped the drug gang distribute 10 kilos of cocaine — about 100,000 vials — to dealers in Union County.

In court, Mr. Hernandez’s lawyer, Raymond M. Brown of Woodbridge, N.J., sought to have the sentence reduced, and called the former officer “one of the most extraordinary and complex human beings I have ever met.”

But Judge Joseph P. Donohue said that Mr. Hernandez had risked police officers’ lives and darkened their public image.

“You thought you were a prince of the city, that you could do what you wish and that you were above the law,” Judge Donohue said before sentencing Mr. Hernandez. In addition to prison, Mr. Hernandez must pay $580 in fines and surrender his car and $58,000 in savings.

His wife and other family members were in court but declined to comment after the sentencing.

Mr. Hernandezs former wife, Sonia Choto, with whom he has a son, said she was pleased with the sentence. He never spent time with his son,” she said. I guess he was too busy dealing drugs, doing illegal activities.