MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp announces the arrests of several drug traffickers following a three-month investigation into the importation and distribution of heroin and cocaine in Morris County.
Between December 2015 and March 2016, members of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Special Enforcement Unit and Detectives with the Morristown Bureau of Police received information regarding cocaine and heroin distribution by multiple members of the Washington family.
An investigation commenced and intelligence was developed by members of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Special Enforcement Unit/Narcotics Task Force, that Ronald G. Washington and his brother George Washington were obtaining a significant supply of heroin and cocaine from a source in Passaic County. The cocaine and heroin was imported into Morris County and sold throughout Morristown, Victory Gardens, Dover and surrounding areas.
On March 13 and 14 several court-ordered search and arrest warrants were executed throughout Morris and Passaic Counties by members of the Narcotics Task Force, Morris County Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team (SERT), Passaic County Sheriff’s Department SWAT and the New Jersey State Police TEAMS Unit.
The investigation resulted in Court authorization for 25 arrests, the seizure of more than 1400 individual folds of heroin, approximately 55 grams of cocaine, various packaging and drug distribution related material, more than $33,500 in United States currency, and handgun ammunition. Additionally, eleven motor vehicles were seized.
The following is a list of individuals charged in the investigation. The charges specific to each individual are included on the attached table:
- Prentice Melton (aka “Prince”), 47, of Clifton (arrested)
- Ronald G. Washington (aka “Trank”), 56, of Dover (arrested)
- George R. Washington (aka “GW”), 51, of Morristown (arrested)
- Michael A. Washington (aka “Raheem”), 54, of Dover (arrested)
- Robert L. Washington (aka “Robbie”), 49, of Morristown (arrested)
- Deborah A. Jones (aka “Auntie”), 61, of Dover (arrested)
- Derrell A. Jones, 31, of Dover (arrested)
- David W. Jones (aka “Bones”), 58, of Dover (arrested)
- Randy Gwaltney (aka “Pee Wee”), 44, of Dover (arrested)
- William A. Bryant, Jr., 50, of Morristown (arrested)
- Gregory Blayer, 34, of Flanders (arrested)
- Otis L. Davis, 57, of Morristown (arrested)
- Andrew W. Mistkowski, 50, of Randolph (arrested)
- Jennie E. Maccario, 36, of Hopatcong (arrested)
- Jessica L. Debonis, 30, of Flanders (at large)
- Melissa A. Lapinski, 36, of Budd Lake (arrested)
- Richard J. Hillabrant, 45, of Rockaway (arrested)
- Korey E. Holloway, 41, of Morristown (arrested)
- Carla J. Forgione, 44, of Rockaway (arrested)
- Sheyne V. Jordan, 45, of Rockaway (arrested)
- Marcelo Fabian, 44, of Dover (arrested)
- Stephen Rudolph, 59, of Glen Gardner (arrested)
- Lauren M. Ellis-White, 52, of Dover (arrested)
- Brandon L. White, 22, Dover (arrested)
- Ashon J. Hackett-Taylor, 22, of Morristown (arrested)
The Honorable Stephen J. Taylor, P.J.Cr. authorized the warrant complaints and set the bails for most of the defendants. The Honorable Ira Cohen, J.M.C. set bail on Derrell Jones.
Prosecutor Knapp stated: “This investigation uncovered a prolific drug trafficking network that distributed cocaine and heroin on the streets of Morris County. The widespread distribution of heroin has a detrimental impact on the lives of all citizens of Morris County. It remains a priority of this Office to target those offenders responsible for spreading this deadly narcotic drug throughout our communities. The cooperation of numerous state, county and local law enforcement agencies throughout northern New Jersey made this hugely successful operation possible.”
Prosecutor Knapp wishes to thank the following agencies for their invaluable assistance and commitment to the Task Force: Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Special Enforcement Unit, Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Morris County Sheriff’s Office, Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department, Morris County Park Police, New Jersey State Police, Morristown Bureau of Police, Florham Park Police Department, Dover Police Department, Roxbury Township Police Department, Morris Township Police Department, Mendham Township Police Department, Chester Township Police Department, Madison Borough Police Department, Chatham Township Police Department, Chatham Borough Police Department, Chester Borough Police Department, Fairfield Police Department, Randolph Township Police Department, Butler Police Department, Mt. Arlington Police Department, Lincoln Park Police Department, Harding Township Police Department, Wharton Borough Police Department, Jefferson Township Police Department, Hopatcong Police Department, Hanover Township Police Department, Rockaway Township Police Department, Morris Plains Police Department, and the Clifton Police Department.
The investigation and prosecution is being conducted by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Special Operations Division. Task Force Officer Edward Zienowicz of the Morris County Narcotics Task Force and Detective Scott Pino of the Morristown Bureau of Police were the lead investigators. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant Prosecutor Erin Callahan.
Editors Note: A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until he or she has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
