Newark –Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that an Essex County jury has convicted Roland “Chalo’ Roberts, 34, of Irvington of two counts, one for possession of heroin and another for possession of heroin with intent to distribute.
Following a trial before the Honorable Nancy Sivilli, Judge of the Superior Court, the jury deliberated for six hours over two days before finding Roberts guilty of possession of 85 decks of heroin with intent to distribute.
The crimes occurred on March 25, 2015 in Irvington.
Roberts was found not guilty of distribution within a 1,000 feet of a school.
When he is sentenced on these offenses, Roberts faces five to 10 years on that charge, according to Assistant Prosecutor Tony Gutierrez who tried the case.
Roberts has four other open cases, three involving possession or distribution of narcotics and a fourth involving a possession of a gun.
Roberts is presumed innocent on those charges unless and until he enters a guilty plea or is found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Prior to this most recent conviction, Roberts was arrested 28 times and convicted 15 times of felonies.
Most of those cases involved possession or distribution of a controlled dangerous substance.
Assistant Prosecutor Gutierrez said they will be back in court on May 19 for a status conference on the open cases.