Pair had $50K in untaxed cigarettes, Riverdale cops say

RIVERDALE - A Connecticut man and woman were charged Monday with transporting more than 700 cartons of contraband cigarettes, police said.

At about 9:47 p.m. Monday, Patrolman Travis Roemmele saw a white 2009 GMC Acadia attempting to back up in a travel lane on Route 23 South near the Kia dealership, Lt. James MacIntosh said.

Roemmele stopped the vehicle and approached the driver — Rafael Santos, 59, of Bridgeport, Connecticut — who could not provide a valid driver’s license, instead offering a license from the Dominican Republic, MacIntosh said.

The passenger — Maria Chimilio, 48, also of Bridgeport — was the registered owner of the vehicle but only had a Connecticut learner’s permit, MacIntosh said.

Santos was issued summonses charging him with driving without a license and improper backing on a highway, and Chimilio was issued a summons charging her with allowing an unlicensed driver to operate a vehicle.

While speaking about their travel, Santos and Chimilio provided conflicting stories, and Roemmele noticed several cartons of cigarettes sticking out from under a blanket in back of the GMC, MacIntosh said.

A further investigation revealed the entire rear of the GMC was full of boxes containing cartons of cigarettes, with the middle row of the vehicle removed to make room for more boxes, MacIntosh said.

No tax stamp for any state was found when the cartons were inspected, and Santos and Chimilio were taken into custody, MacIntosh said.

While being arrested, police found counterfeit $20 and $10 bills in Santo’s possession, MacIntosh said.

The New Jersey Treasury Department sent investigators and compiled an inventory of the cigarettes.

The GMC contained 723 untaxed cartons, including 673 Newport 100s and 50 Marlboros, with an estimated value of more than $50,000.

Santos and Chimilio were charged with transporting contraband cigarettes. Santos was also charged with forgery for the alleged counterfeit money.

Santos’ bail was set at $20,000 and Chimilio's at $2,500 with no 10 percent option. Neither posted bail, and both were taken to the Morris County Correctional Facility.

The Treasury Department charged Santos and Chimilio with possession of cigarettes without a required New Jersey tax stamp, not maintaining books or records as required, and engaging as an unregistered person in cigarette distribution.

All charges will be heard in state Superior Court, Morristown, next Wednesday.

The cigarette cartons were seized by the Treasury Department. The GMC was impounded, and the Riverdale Police Department has filed paperwork to seize the vehicle, MacIntosh said.

Detective Sgt. Christopher Biro, Sgt. Greg Bogert and Patrolman Joe McDermott assisted with the arrest and investigation.

Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@GannettNJ.com