MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp, Mount Olive Police Chief Stephen Beecher and Chief Conrad Pepperman of the Rockaway Borough Police Department announce the arrest of two individuals for first-degree possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute and second-degree possession of heroin with the intent to distribute.
During the summer of 2017, members of the Mount Olive Police Department Detective Bureau obtained information concerning an individual in Morris County distributing a large volume of heroin. Based on that information, a joint investigation was initiated by Mount Olive Police and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Special Enforcement Unit/Narcotics Task Force.
The investigation culminated Thursday when investigators seized approximately seven ounces of cocaine and 2,450 dosages (individual folds) of heroin. The estimated street value of the illegal drugs seized is in excess of $20,500.
The following two individuals were arrested as a result of this investigation:
Jose Miguel Majia, 48, Rockaway Township, was charged with the following:
One count of first-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (cocaine) with the Intent to Distribute.
One count of second-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with the Intent to Distribute (heroin).
One count of second-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with the Intent to Distribute (cocaine).
Two counts of third-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (cocaine).
One count of third-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (heroin).
Ines Maria Ribera-Rodiguez, 58, Rockaway Township, was charged with the following:
One count of first-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (cocaine) with the Intent to Distribute.
One count of second-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with the Intent to Distribute (heroin).
One count of second-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with the Intent to Distribute (cocaine).
Two counts of third-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (cocaine).
One count of third-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (heroin).
Pursuant to the recently-instituted bail reform, Majia and Ribera-Rodriquez were lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility pending a first appearance.
Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp wishes to thank the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Special Enforcement Unit (Narcotics Task Force and its participating agencies), the Mount Olive Police Department, the Rockaway Borough Police Department and the Morris County Sheriff’s Office for their efforts related to this investigation.
Prosecutor Knapp said, “This investigation targeted individuals responsible for importing and distributing a steady supply of heroin in Morris County.
The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office and its Narcotics Task Force partners will continue to combat the opiate epidemic through enforcement efforts targeting for profit drug dealers. Fortunately we removed from our community over 2,000 dosages of heroin with these arrests.”
This investigation was conducted under the direction of MCPO Captain Brian Keane, Commander of the Narcotics Task Force, and Detective Lieutenant Luis Sanchez of the Mount Olive Police Department.
Editors Note: A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.