45°
Hoover Rodriguez, 40, of Houston pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering that came from a New Jersey State Police traffic stop on the turnpike in Hamilton 15 months ago.
In turn, he will be sentenced to time served.
Troopers stopped the Cadillac STS Rodriguez was riding in with two other men and found him carrying $34,950 in cash in a bag, authorities said.
They then obtained a warrant for the River Road home of 26-year-old Jonathan Antistian Jackson, where they said they found the heroin.
Rodriguez, Jackson, and Jackson’s father, 49-year-old Miguel Angel Guzman-Nieves, also of Houston, were charged with possession of a first-degree weight of heroin with intent to distribute, second-degree conspiracy, third-degree possession of heroin, and third-degree money laundering.
Rodriguez pleaded guilty to the money laundering count after protracted discussion yesterday in Hackensack with Presiding Superior Judge Liliana DeAvila-Silebi.
The judge and defense attorney John Carbone struggled to explain to Hoover, who speaks only Spanish, that he’s already served most of the time required under the plea agreement already.
The Colombian native insisted that he needed his “discovery” and that he wanted to defend himself.
The judge also told him that he was facing a much longer sentence if convicted at a trial — as much as 35 years on the four charges — and fines in excess of $500,000.
Under questioning by Carbone, Rodriguez admitted he was in the car with the two other men when state troopers searched it on March 7, 2013.
“The police searched the car and your bag had some money,” Carbone continued, “And it was around $30,000.”
Rodriguez agreed.
“You know you’re not allowed to have that kind of money, correct?” the attorney asked.
He said he did.
DeAvila-Silebi set sentencing for Aug. 1 but said she would be willing to move it up so that Rodriguez could be released sooner. He also must forfeit the cash and will be deported.
His two co-defendants, Nieves and Jackson, have already pleaded guilty and are due to be sentenced June 27. Nieves is facing eight years in prison — two of which he must serve. Jackson was entered into a pre-trial intervention that will clear his record if he meets its requirements.
Deputy Attorney General Ray Mateo of the state Division of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau is handling the case.
STORY / PHOTOS: Mary K. Miraglia, CLIFFVIEW PILOT Courthouse Reporter
Click here to follow Daily Voice Hackensack and receive free news updates.
