Drug Bust Nets 25 In Hopatcong, Roxbury

Police said that a month-long drug investigation led to the arrest of more than two dozen people in Hopatcong and Roxbury early Wednesday morning.

Police said 87 officers from towns in Sussex and Morris counties began arresting the 22 men and three women at about 3 a.m. Wednesday in 'Operation Roxicong.' Twenty-three of the people were charged with offenses related to distribution. 

The drugs ranged from heroin to marijuana to prescription drugs, including roxicotin and xanax, police said. Police said more 100 roxicotin or xanax pills were purchased by undercover officers over a one-month period.

Roxbury Police Chief James Simonetti said at a press conference Wednesday afternoon that the arrests were made by utilizing the undercover officers and cooperating witnesses throughout the past month.

Police said the investigation began when Det. Richard Ricco of the Roxbury Police and Det. Ryan Tracey of Hopatcong discovered several individuals shared similar characteristics in the crimes.

Simonetti said incidents involving stolen property sparked the investigation.

Police also recovered two motorcycles in Hopatcong Wednesday that were suspected to be stolen in Roxbury, Simonetti said.

"The detectives were working other cases – burglaries, thefts – and were coming up with the same people as possible suspects in cases," Simonetti said. "They put the cases together, realized that the common denominator was narcotic distribution, and it was effecting both our communities."

Simonetti and Hopatcong Police Chief Robert Brennan thanked other agencies that assisted in the investigation, including MAGLOCEN, a federally funded organization that provided funds, equipment and analytical studies, the Morris County K-9 Unit, Sussex County K-9 Unit, New Jersey State Police, Division of Consumer Affairs-Enforcement Bureau, and the multiple jurisdictions that provided manpower for the search warrants and arrests.

Here's a list of the individuals charged by town:

Hopatcong

• John McKevitt, 23: Possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS)
• Michael J. Furman Jr., 28: Possesion of a CDS (6 counts), possession with intent to distribute a CDS (5 counts), distribution of a CDS (5 counts), distribution of a CDS within 500 feet of a park
• Mark J. Vogt, 35: Possession of a CDS, possession with intent to distribute a CDS, distribution of a CDS, conspiracy to possess a CDS, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a CDS, conspiracy to distribute a CDS
• Theodore R. Hadyka, 23: Possession of a CDS, possession with intent to distribute a CDS, distribution of a CDS, conspiracy to possess a CDS, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a CDS, conspiracy to distribute a CDS
• Joseph T. Leonard, 28: Possession of a CDS (3 counts), possession with intent to distribute a CDS, distribution of a CDS (3 counts), conspiracy to possess a CDS (3 counts), conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a CDS (2 counts), conspiracy to distribute a CDS (2 counts), distribution of a CDS within 1,000 feet of a school
• Corey J. Barber, 29: Possession of a CDS, possession with intent to distribute a CDS, distribution of a CDS, conspiracy to possess a CDS, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a CDS, conspiracy to distribute a CDS, distribution of a CDS within 1,000 feet of a school
• Matthew S. Smith, 24: Possession of a CDS (2 counts), possession with intent to distribute a CDS (2 counts), distribution of a CDS (2 counts), conspiracy to possess a CDS, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute CDSa , conspiracy to distribute a CDS
• Michael P. Liberti, 27: Possession of a CDS (3 counts), possession with intent to distribute a CDS, distribution of a CDS (3 counts), conspiracy to possess a CDS (3 counts), conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a CDS (2 counts), conspiracy to distribute a CDS (2 counts)
• Robert Jones Jr., 29: Possession of drug paraphernalia (2 counts), possession of CDS (2 counts), possession with intent to distribute a CDS (2 counts), distribution of a CDS (2 counts), distribution of a CDS within 1,000-feet of a school (2 counts)
• Christopher G. Cordasco, 25: Possession of a CDS, possession with intent to distribute a CDS, distribution of a CDS
• Sean C. Murray, 20: Possession of a CDS, possession with intent to distribute a CDS, distribution of a CDS, distribution of a CDS within 500-feet of a park
• John M. Leonard, 25: Possession of a CDS, possession with intent to distribute a CDS, distribution of a CDS, conspiracy to possess a CDS, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a CDS, conspiracy to distribute a CDS
• Justin T. Fastiggi, 25: Possession of a CDS, possession with intent to distribute a CDS, distribution of a CDS
• Scott J. August, 23: Possession of a CDS (2 counts), possession with intent to distribute a CDS (2 counts), distribution of a CDS (2 counts)
• Kurt J. Neubauer, 23: Possession of a CDS, possession with intent to distribute a CDS, distribution of a CDS
• Zachary Martindell, 20: Possession of a CDS, possession with intent to distribute a CDS, distribution of a CDS

Roxbury

• Charles C. Tredway: Possession of a CDS
• Steven D. Howell, 29: Possession of a CDS, possession with intent to distribute a CDS, distribution of a CDS, conspiracy to possess a CDS, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a CDS, conspiracy to distribute a CDS
• Erin M. Cikovsky: Possession of a CDS (2 counts), possession with intent to distribute a CDS (2 counts), distribution of a CDS (2 counts), conspiracy to possess a CDS (2 counts), conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a CDS (2 counts), conspiracy to distribute a CDS (2 counts), distribution of a controlled dangerous substance within 1000-feet of a school, distribution of a CDS within 500-feet of a park
• Wilmot A. Watson, 20: Possession of a CDS (2 Counts), possession with intent to distribute a CDS (2 counts), distribution of a CDS (2 counts), conspiracy to possess a CDS (2 counts), conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a CDS (2 counts), conspiracy to distribute a CDS (2 counts), distribution of a CDS 1,000-feet of a school, distribution of a CDS within 500-feet of a park
• Dylan S. Nowakowski, 19: Possession of a CDS (2 counts), possession with intent to distribute a CDS (2 counts), distribution of a CDS (2 counts), distribution of a CDS within 500-feet of a park (2 counts)
• Melissa L. Zabriskie, 29: Possession of a CDS, possession with intent to distribute a CDS, distribution of a CDS, distribution of a CDS within 500-feet of a park
• Scott H. Rosica, 23: Possession of a CDS, possession with intent to distribute a CDS, distribution of a CDS, conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance

Mount Olive

• John J. Youssef, 28: Possession of an with intent to distribute a CDS, distribution of a CDS