COUPLE FROM HOBOKEN ACCUSED AS MONEY RUNNERS FOR DRUG BOSS

Indictment charges judge's son and wife funneled funds through Atlanta
connection

A Hoboken couple was indicted yesterday for their alleged role as
couriers for one of the largest drug cartels in Mexico.

Authorities said William Kumpf, 28, and his wife, Jennifer, 27, helped
funnel large sums of money to one of the bosses of the organization of
the late drug trafficker Amado Carillo Fuentes.

William Kumpf, who authorities said was known by the code names "Elvis
Presley" and "Pretty Boy," was identified as a financial research
analyst for Cantor-Fitzgerald in New York and the son of a State
Compensation Court judge from Somerset County. His wife was
identified as a psychotherapist.

The two were arrested after U.S. DEA agents searched their Hudson
Street apartment.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherry Ann Hutchins Henderson,
the two were accused of serving as financial couriers for the drug
organization, transporting proceeds from Georgia to San Diego.

Kumpf's father, Judge Fred Kumpf, was present in the courtroom and
agreed to post his home to secure $100,000 bail for the couple, but
declined all comment.

The prosecutor said part of the evidence was based on government
wiretaps.

According to documents unsealed yesterday in Newark, investigators
have linked the Kumpfs with one of the alleged leaders of the drug
organization, Jorge Ontiveros-Rodriguez, who was described by
authorities as the head of the San Diego cell responsible for cocaine
distribution.

Court records said investigators learned of the Kumpfs alleged
involvement after monitoring a cell phone maintained by Ontiveros'
wife, and learning that he was being sent to Atlanta to pick up more
than $100,000 in cash on behalf of Ontiveros.

A DEA surveillance spotted Kumpf after he arrived in Atlanta on July
10. He was eventually stopped at the airport and told that a
drug-detection dog had been alerted to the presence of drugs on his
baggage.

A check of the suitcase turned up some $79,300 in cash which was
seized by the DEA, authorities said, after which Kumpf returned to the
New York area.

Authorities charged that they subsequently learned that Kumpf had made
at least 22 trips to Atlanta during the last three years, while his
wife made 14 trips, all believed for the purpose of carrying drug proceeds.

A spokesman for the DEA in New Jersey said the arrests of the Kumpfs
marked the second phase of the "Operation Impunity" investigation to
targets suspect in New Jersey.

DEA agent Earl Fielder said the owner of a Paterson auto body shop,
Angel Perdona, 40, of the Bronx, and an employee, Carlos Rodriguez,
43, of Union City, were arrested last month on related narcotics
charges as a result of a joint effort with the U.S. Customs Service
and Paterson police.