Duo From Massachusetts Arrested In New Jersey And Charged With Drug Distribution And Money Laundering
BERGEN COUNTY, N.J. - Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo; James J. Hunt, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Division of the US Drug Enforcement (DEA); James P. O’Neill, Police Commissioner of the New York City Police (NYPD); and George P. Beach II, Superintendent of the New York State (NYSP) announced the arrest of Candido Tomasini of 3 Wood Street, Apt. 2, Fitchburg, MA and Maribel Roman of 323 Rollstone Street, Fitchburg, MA, on the following charges: one count of possession with the intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, specifically Cocaine; one count of possession with the intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, specifically Heroin; and one count of money laundering, in the amount of $40,250.00. These arrests are the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the New York Drug Enforcement Task (NYDETF) comprised of agents and officers of the DEA, NYPD and NYSP.
In March 2018, the NYDETF, Group T-31 and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office received information that Candido Tomasini and Maribel Roman were involved in the distribution of narcotics in Bergen County. In furtherance of the investigation, on March 19, 2018, a motor vehicle stop was conducted in Paramus, NJ, on a vehicle operated by Candido Tomasini and occupied by Maribel Roman. Law enforcement officials conducted a consent search of the vehicle and seized three kilograms of heroin and one kilogram of cocaine from two separate aftermarket electronically operated hidden compartments, with an approximate street value of $600,000, as well as $40,250 in cash. Candido Tomasini and Maribel Roman were arrested without incident.
As a result of the investigation, Candido Tomasini and Maribel Roman were each charged with one count of possession with the intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, namely Heroin, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5B(1), a crime of the 1st degree; one count of possession with the intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, namely Cocaine, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5B(1), a crime of the 1st degree; and one count of money laundering, in the amount of $40,250, N.J.S.A. 2C:21-25A, a crime of the 3rd degree. Both Candido Tomasini and Maribel Roman were remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a detention hearing on March 23, 2018 at 9:00 A.M.
Acting Prosecutor Calo stated, “We would like to thank the US Drug Enforcement Administration, the New York City Police Department, and the New York State Police for their contributions to these arrests and their commitment to drug interdiction and enforcement. Bergen County will continue this cooperation and commitment with our law enforcement partners to make our streets safer and to protect our citizens.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge James Hunt stated, “Last night we arrested significant traffickers who fed drug addiction throughout the New York and New Jersey area. By working with our law enforcement partners, this heroin and cocaine network has been shut down and dismantled.”
Additionally, Superintendent George P. Beach II said, “Today’s announcement speaks to the inter-agency coordination and cooperation dedicated to get drugs out of our neighborhoods. Thanks to a strong partnership, a significant amount of dangerous drugs and money have been seized. We will continue to work with our partners to bring these criminals to justice and make sure they get the message that this will not be tolerated.”
Acting Prosecutor Dennis Calo states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and would also like to thank the Paramus Police Department and the Bergen County Regional SWAT team for their assistance in this investigation.
