JERSEY CITY – Councilman Khemraj “Chico” Ramchal pleaded guilty Thursday to charges arising from a 2015 drunken driving arrest. As part of a plea deal to avoid jail time, he will resign his council seat representing Ward B.
Ramchal pled guilty to drunken driving, assault by auto, and theft by deception. The last charge resulted from allegations that he had fudged travel records while employed at the Hudson County Improvement Authority (HCIA).
Assistant Prosecutor Karyn Darish is expected to ask the court to sentence Ramchal to probation when sentenced on July 15. This would also come with the caveat that he cannot hold an elected or appointed government office in New Jersey.
Ramchal did not respond to requests for comment.
The investigation into Ramchal came after he was involved in an accident involving his county vehicle on March 14, 2015, for which he was later charged with assault. The crash resulted in bodily injury to a passenger in the vehicle that was struck.
Police who administered an alcohol test after the crash alleged that Ramchal was driving a city vehicle while intoxicated. However, thus far, he has not been charged with driving under the influence.
Ramchal was later fired from the HCIA based on an investigation into travel records which indicated that he was not working in locations when his work log said he was.
Ramchal was elected to the council in 2013 as a running mate of Mayor Steven Fulop. Prior to that, Ramchal served as a council aide to former Councilman David Donnelly, and as an assistant to Freeholder Bill O’Dea.
The City Council will have to nominate a candidate to fill Ramchal’s unexpired term.
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