Malden man confesses to drugs, guns

LAWRENCE – A Malden man who was about to go on trial for drug and firearm charges opted instead to confess and received up to 10 years in prison.John Bernbaum, 37, of 12 Cleveland St., Apt. 2, Malden, pleaded guilty Monday in Lawrence Superior Court to trafficking over 100 grams of cocaine, conspiracy to violate the drug laws, possession of a firearm without a license and possession of ammunition.He will serve 7-to-10-years in state prison before being placed on probation for another three years.Judge Richard E. Welch, III, sentenced Bernbaum in accordance with the recommendation reached by Assistant District Attorney Michael P. Hickey and defense lawyer Alfred P. Farese.The charges relate to a 2006 wire tap case in which large amounts of cocaine was being sold throughout the area.Bernbaum admitted he was selling cocaine apparently supplied from Peter Alleyne and reportedly paid by Eric Rogers, Hickey said.When police arrested Baumbaum at his home in Malden on Aug. 24, 2006 they seized 106 grams of cocaine along with a firearm and ammunition.Alleyne, 40, of 65 Ballard St., Saugus, awaits trial on the case along with Brian Hatch, 36, of Windham, N.H., and Robert Sullivan, 41, of Swampscott.Rogers, 40, who last lived at 8 Pebbles Ave., in Revere, pleaded guilty to his role in the case last November and is now serving five-to-eight years in prison.