Mother, son sentenced in Schenectady for-profit arson

A judge called a mother and son’s scheme to hire a 14-year-old to burn down an unoccupied house “very troubling.” Both were sentenced to state prison Thursday morning.

The mother declined to say anything on her behalf. “No, thank you,” she said when given the opportunity to speak.

Her son took his opportunity to apologize “to everyone” for what he did.

Sardawatie K. Beedasee, 42, and her 22-year-old son, Romal Ramgadoo, were both sentenced this morning after striking plea deals mid-trial in March.

Beedasee received an agreed-upon two to six years in state prison; her son Ramgadoo received 2.5 to 7.5 years.

“Having heard the testimony at trial,” Judge James A. Murphy III told Beedasee this morning, “it is very troubling indeed that you sought the services of a teenager, a young boy, to carry out this arson.”

To Ramgadoo, Murphy stressed the seriousness of the crime.

“You are very lucky indeed that this did not result in a more serious charge and a more serious sentence,” Murphy said.

Beedasee and Ramgadoo were tried together in March, but sentenced separately today.

The plea deals came as Beedasee had completed her testimony and Ramgadoo was in the midst of cross-examination.

They both admitted to paying the 14-year-old boy to burn 66-68 Linden St., which was owned by Beedasee, in order to claim a $200,000 insurance policy on the property.

The boy, who testified but was never charged, set the fire May 15, 2014, destroying it.

The property was unoccupied and no one was hurt, but firefighters put themselves at risk to enter the burning building and search for possible victims.

Prosecutor John Healy said at trial that Beedasee had the building burned less than a month after taking out the insurance policy and a day before the second policy payment was due.

Healy argued that the two put the boy’s life in danger to line their own pockets.

Beedasee pleaded guilty to attempted arson in exchange for the two to six years in state prison. Ramgadoo admitted to third-degree arson in return for the sentence of 2.5 to 7.5 years.

Both also face possible deportation to their native Guyana upon release, prosecutors have said, as neither are U.S. citizens.

To Beedasee, Murphy made it clear that she pleaded guilty only after admissions made by her son were about to come into evidence that were damaging to her.

“That ultimately caused you, I believe, to change your mind and plead guilty in this particular case,” Murphy told her.

He said he hoped she had learned something from the experience.

Ramgadoo, in his own sentencing, said he accepted responsibility.

“I just want to apologize,” Ramgadoo said. “I’m very sorry for whatever happened, whatever I put my family through. I apologize to the court, I apologize to Mr. Healy. I apologize to everyone.”

Murphy said he appreciated Ramgadoo accepting responsibility and his apologies, but the judge also noted the serious nature of the crime.

The judge said he believed that Ramgadoo’s mother steered Ramgadoo in the wrong direction, and that, based on the trial, it appeared Ramgadoo had an “independence issue” with his mother.

“Once you decided on your own to do what you did, you were free from her control,” Murphy told Ramgadoo. “So I hope in the future that you will exercise independent judgement and you have time to think about that.”

At the same time, Murphy addressed Ramgadoo hiring the 14-year-old. “I find that part offensive,” the judge said.

The case was the first arson-for-profit prosecution brought during the 25-year tenure of Schenectady County District Attorney Robert Carney. After the plea, Carney credited the creation of the local Arson Task Force and the investigative work of Schenectady Fire Department Capt. Doug Faulisi, Lt. Thomas Dercole and Firefighter James Penn.

Carney also noted the effectiveness of the street-camera system in the city. It captured images of the 14-year-old fleeing the scene and corroborated the account he gave to investigators.

Beedasee was represented by attorney Glen Brownell; Ramgadoo by attorney Sam Iroegbu.

Categories: News, Schenectady County