NORWICH – A Bronx man pleaded guilty to selling crack with his cousin out of the a hotel in Norwich and was sentenced to prison on March 6 in Chenango County Court.
William Rochez, 20, Bronx, was arraigned on Dec. 5, 2014 for the charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, a class B felony; criminal nuisance in the first degree, a class E felony; and criminal impersonation in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor.
It is alleged, June 10, 2014 at 4:13 p.m. in Room 123 at the Howard Johnson Hotel located on 75 North Broad St. in the City of Norwich, Rochez – while acting in concert with his 18-year-old cousin, Noel Budram of the Bronx – did knowingly and unlawfully possess 15 individually wrapped plastic bag corner wraps of the narcotic drug cocaine, which he intended to sell.
It is also alleged Rochez did knowingly and unlawfully allow individuals to gather in his hotel room for the purpose of engaging in unlawful sales of controlled substances. Rochez allegedly did benefit monetarily from the controlled substance transactions that took place.
When uniformed police officers asked Rochez his name, he allegedly gave the false name of “Jordan Collins” to avoid being arrested on an active warrant out of the New York City Police Department.
Rochez and Budram were arrested following a complaint to the Norwich City Police Department that the hotel smelled of marijuana. The smell was allegedly coming from Rochez's hotel room.
Police officers found $800 worth of crack cocaine near one of the hotel room beds. Rochez allegedly admitted the crack cocaine was his and said it had been selling for $50 a rock.
Rochez and Budram were remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility on June 10 in lieu of a $10,000 cash bail, $20,000 bond or $40,000 real property.
Rochez was later released until his arraignment on Dec. 5, 2014, where he pleaded not guilty. Judge Frank B. Revoir, Jr. remanded Rochez back to the county jail on $5,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond.
Rochez's cousin and co-defendant, had been arrested earlier in April of 2014 for allegedly selling crack outside the Norwich Motor Lodge.
On Nov. 3, 2014, Budram pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, regarding the Norwich Motor Lodge case, and pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, regarding the Howard Johnson Hotel case.
