Philadelphia Family Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Charges
By Mary K. Miraglia
HACKENSACK, N.J. (Feb. 24, 2017) — A Philadelphia man who took his wife and children on an “outing” to New York and New Jersey with a kilo of heroin hidden in the console of the family van has pleaded guilty to drug charges.
Ricky Bahamundi-Roman, 37, pleaded guilty to a second degree charge of drug possession with intent to distribute same in return for a sentencing recommendation of six years, with a two year stipulation of parole disqualified before he can be eligible for parole. The plea agreement was against first degree possession of heroin with intent to distribute, and as much as 20 years if convicted at a trial, plus a possible additional five years for child endangerment.
Bahamundi-Roma’s van was parked in a fire lane, near a hydrant, at the motel in Fort Lee where he was staying with his wife and four of his seven children after he drove up from Philadelphia to sell the drugs. Police checking out the parking lot and caught the odor of marijuana smoke coming from his car. Bahamundi-Roma had been smoking pot in the vehicle earlier, said his attorney, Ron Bar-Nadav of Hackensack and when he came out of the motel Jan. 19, 2016 police searched the van and found the heroin hidden in the console. Both Bahamundi-Roma and his wife were arrested.
“He made a very stupid decision,” Bar-Nadav said. “He thought if his family was with him, he wouldn’t get stopped by police.” Bahamundi-Roma pleaded guilty pre-indictment to get the most favorable terms, and also to protect his wife who, Bar-Nadav said, knew nothing about the heroin but was also charged with drug possession and endangering. As part of the plea agreement, the charges against his wife was lowered to a noncustodial charge.
Mrs. Bahamundi-Roma, who is represented by defense attorney Adam Lustberg of Hackensack, is a candidate for pre-trial intervention, Bar-Nadav said. Bahamundi-Roma had been released from the Bergen County Jail on a $150,000.00 bail since his January 2016 arrest
