Pubdate: Sun, 16 Jul 2006
Source: Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ)
Copyright: 2006 Newark Morning Ledger Co
Contact:  http://www.nj.com/starledger/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/424
Author: Judith Lucas
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

ROGUE EX-TROOPER VOICES REMORSE

Drug Dealer Gets 24 Years In Prison

Disgraced former state trooper Moises Hernandez couldn't hold back 
the tears as he addressed the court yesterday before being sentenced 
for dealing drugs, laundering money and threatening witnesses.

Wearing a tailored brown suit his wife had dropped off for him 
earlier in the week, Hernandez had to pause several times as he read 
from a piece of paper.

"I would like to apologize to this court and the New Jersey State 
Police," Hernandez said, his right hand still handcuffed to another 
prisoner who also faced sentencing yesterday. "I am truly one hundred 
percent remorseful. I have dishonored my badge," he said as he wiped 
tears from his eyes.

Yesterday morning, he was sentenced to 24 years in state prison by 
Superior Court Judge Joseph Donohue in Elizabeth.

An undercover State Police trooper turned drug dealer, Hernandez, 39, 
was convicted April 27 of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and 
marijuana, witness tampering, official misconduct, money laundering 
and racketeering conspiracy.

With good behavior, Hernandez could be eligible for parole in five years.

Described by prosecutors as a traitor to the force, Hernandez was 
able to sell kilos of cocaine by using the very informants who were 
supposed to help him ferret out drug dealers in Union County.

For more than four years, Hernandez operated with impunity. During 
that time, he arranged a favorable deal for one of his drug-dealing 
friends; looted 100 kilos of cocaine from a truck in a motel parking 
lot and threatened to kill witnesses who cooperated with authorities, 
all while on the state payroll.

As one of his rewards, he bought himself a convertible, a Mercedes SL 
that cost close to six figures.

The officer's illegal actions were uncovered by chance because of a 
wiretap set up to catch drug dealers. Hernandez admitted to his 
misconduct in April as part of a plea bargain with prosecutors.

"What your crime shows is the arrogance of power," Donohue said as he 
passed sentence. "You thought you were prince of the city, that you 
were above the law."

Choking back tears, Hernandez said the stress of 17 years of 
undercover work and putting his life on the line to catch drug 
dealers pushed him over the edge and to the other side, he said.

"I embarrassed the State Police and my family," Hernandez said to the court.

Hernandez said his bosses expected him to be like "Superman" and if 
he showed them signs of weakness, he would quickly be labeled a 
"basket case" and reassigned.

"I always tried my best, but the pressure was a constant burden on 
me," Hernandez said. "It took a huge toll on me and my family."

His lawyer, Raymond Brown, said Hernandez, who was lauded for 
crime-solving abilities, continues to wrestle with himself for 
crossing the line.

Greed made Hernandez turn to a life of crime, Union County Assistant 
Prosecutor Julie Peterman said.

"He earned nearly $100,000 a year, they gave him a badge, a gun, a 
car. The world was his oyster and he chose crime," Peterman said. "He 
bought himself a $98,000 Mercedes with his drug proceeds. He chose 
crime over a law-abiding life."

Union County Prosecutor Theodore Romankow said Hernandez put police 
officers in jeopardy particularly when he helped a cocaine dealer by 
identifying a police surveillance car.

"A lot of police officers suffer from working undercover but they 
don't start distributing drugs," Romankow said.

His wife, Tina Hernandez, 35, who faces charges of money laundering 
and conspiracy to distribute cocaine, said she did nothing wrong.

As for her husband, Tina Hernandez said she believes he "got confused 
about which side he was on."

Hernandez must give up $59,000 he has in a bank account and the right 
to ever again hold public employment.

"He is a man who made a mistake and he is now trying to find 
redemption," said Brown, who had asked for a 20-year sentence.

"For 16 years I was recognized as one of the most dedicated 
troopers," Hernandez told the court yesterday. "I was proud of my career."
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman