Apr.05, 2010

FREEHOLD — Less than two weeks after a Manalapan man admitted operating a $1 million-a-week cocaine ring and implicated them in the conspiracy, three co-defendants who were present for his guilty plea have accepted plea offers for their roles in the operation.

Hector Rodriguez, 41, and Michael Lopez, 36, both of Perth Amboy, and Cesar Cabrera-Cepeda, 40, of Old Bridge appeared in the courtroom of state Superior Court Judge Anthony J. Mellaci Monday to enter their guilty pleas to aiding Vicente Esteves, 37, of Manalapan to launder the cash proceeds of the drug sales.

Esteves admitted March 25 that he ran the cocaine ring and was laundering the proceeds to finance a lavish lifestyle for his family that included a gated suburban home, 100 Rolex watches and expensive shoes for his wife. He now faces up to 25 years in prison.

Esteves implicated several of his alleged co-conspirators as he answered questions about the drug activity he orchestrated in Louisiana, Texas, Florida and Georgia, as well as in Monmouth, Middlesex and Essex counties in New Jersey, all with drugs he imported from the Dominican Republic through an Atlanta receiver.

Rodriguez pleaded guilty Monday to one count of second-degree racketeering, first-degree drug possession and first-degree money laundering as part of a plea agreement with the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office. In exchange for his guilty plea, the Prosecutor's Office will recommend he be sentenced to 12 years in state prison with a stipulation he serve a minimum of five years behind bars before he is eligible for parole.

"Mr. Rodriguez did what he thought was best for him and his family, in light of the circumstances," defense attorney John Perrone said. "At this point in time, he wants to do his time and move on with his life."

Lopez pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree conspiracy to commit money laundering as part of his plea agreement with the Prosecutor's Office. In exchange for his plea, prosecutors will be asking he be sentenced to time served and a period of one to five years of probation.

Cabrera-Cepeda accepted a negotiated plea offer from the Prosecutor's Office. In exchange for his guilty plea to one count of third-degree conspiracy to commit money laundering, prosecutors will ask Cabrera-Cepeda be accepted into the pretrial intervention program.

Cabrera-Cepeda is a Dominican Republic national who is legally in the country, but may now face deportation because of his guilty plea.

Rodriguez, Lopez and Cabrera-Cepeda — who were free in bail — were in the courtroom when Esteves entered his guilty plea and answered questions that implicated them. Esteves did not implicate his wife, Chantal, who is charged with conspiracy and money laundering. Chantal Esteves was also in the courtroom to hear her husband plead guilty.