Morris County Narcotics Task Force Makes Multiple Arrests for Heroin Distribution

Published on August 08, 2013

Acting Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp, Roxbury Police Chief James Simonetti, Mount Arlington Police Chief Keith Licata and Hopatcong Police Chief Robert Brennan announce the arrest of seven individuals operating a heroin distribution network encompassing Morris, Sussex and Essex counties.  

 
The multi-agency six-month long investigation that was initiated based upon criminal information received by the Hopatcong Police Department concluded Tuesday with the arrest of seven individuals for various heroin possession and distribution charges. The investigation was spearheaded by the Morris County Prosecutor's Office, Special Enforcement Unit under the leadership of Captain Daniel DeGroot and Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Bradford Seabury, with the assistance of several other law enforcement agencies. In addition to the arrests, the investigation culminated in the execution of several search warrants, the seizure of 10 bricks of heroin (500 doses), 6 vehicles used by the defendants during the illegal activity and $23,000 in proceeds from drug sales.
 
John A. Davieau, 55, of Lake Hopatcong, who is alleged to have imported more than 1,900 individual folds of heroin into Morris County for distribution during the investigation, was arrested on August 6, 2013 and charged with:
 
  • (1) Count of Conspiracy to Possess Heroin with the Intent to Distribute greater than one-half ounce, to wit: 1,900 folds of heroin (2nd Degree)
  • (13) Counts of Conspiracy to Possess Heroin (3rd Degree)
  • (13) Counts of Conspiracy to Possess Heroin with Intent to Distribute (3rd Degree)
  • (13) Counts of Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin (3rd Degree)
  • (2) Counts of Conspiracy to Possess Heroin with Intent to Distribute within
  • 500 ft. of Public Housing (2nd Degree)
  • (1) Count Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute within 500 ft. of Public Housing (2nd Degree)
  • (9) Counts of Possession of Heroin (3rd Degree)
  • (9) Counts of Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute (3rd Degree)
  • (9) Counts of Distribution of Heroin (3rd Degree)
  • (5) Counts of Conspiracy to Possess Heroin with Intent to Distribute
  •  within 500 ft. of a Public Park (2nd Degree) 
  • (5) Counts of Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin within 500 ft. of a Public Park (2nd Degree)
  • (5) Counts of Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute within 500 ft. of a Public Park (2nd Degree)
  • (5) Counts of Distribution of Heroin within 500 ft. of a Public Park (2nd Degree) 
Davieau was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility on a $150,000.00 no 10% bail.
 
Davieau is the owner of Royal Communications of Wharton, N.J., a business that provided the communication needs to a host of law enforcement agencies throughout the State of New Jersey. Davieau is also the proprietor of the River Styx Grill located on Lake Hopatcong, N.J. Search warrants were executed on the evening of August 6, 2013, at both locations from which Davieau is charged with distributing heroin during this investigation.
 
 Authorities also identified Frank L. Griffin, 51, of Newark as the source of the heroin. He was also arrested in Newark, N.J. on August 6, 2013 for:
 
  • (3) Counts of Conspiracy to Possess Heroin (3rd Degree)
  • (3) Counts of Conspiracy to Possess Heroin with Intent to Distribute (3rd Degree)
  • (3) Counts of Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin (3rd Degree)
  • (3) Counts of Conspiracy to Possess Heroin with Intent to Distribute within 500 ft. of Public Housing (2nd Degree)
  • (2) Counts of Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin within 500 ft. of Public Housing (2nd Degree)
  • (1) Count of Possession of Heroin (3rd Degree)
  • (1) Count of Possess Heroin with Intent to Distribute (3rd Degree)
  • (1) Count of Distribute Heroin (3rd Degree)
  • (1) Count of Possess Heroin with Intent to Distribute within 500 ft. of Public Housing (2nd Degree)
  • (1) Count of Distribution of Heroin within 500 ft. of Public Housing (2nd Degree)
 
Griffin was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility on $120,000.00 no 10% bail.
 
 
Authorities also arrested the following individuals Tuesday for their involvement in this illicit heroin distribution operation:
 
Amanda Skinner, 25, of Hopatcong:
 
  • (2) Counts of Conspiracy to Possess Heroin (3rd Degree)
  • (1) Count of Conspiracy to Possess Heroin with Intent to Distribute (3rd Degree)
  • (1) Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin (3rd Degree)
  • (1) Count of Possess Heroin (3rd Degree)
  • (1) Count of Possess Heroin with Intent to Distribute (3rd Degree)
  • (1) Count of Distribute Heroin (3rd Degree)
Skinner was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility on $50,000.00 with 10% option bail.
 
Rachael Dean, 29, of Hopatcong:
  • (1) Count of Conspiracy to Possess Heroin (3rd Degree )
  • (1) Count of Conspiracy to Possess Heroin with Intent to Distribute (3rd Degree)
  • (1) Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin (3rd Degree)
  • (1) Count of Possession of Heroin (3rd Degree)
  • (1) Count of Possess Heroin with Intent to Distribute (3rd Degree)
  • (1) Count of Distribute Heroin (3rd Degree)
  • (1) Count of Conspiracy to Possess Heroin with Intent to Distribute within 500 ft. of a Public Park (2nd Degree)
  • (1) Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin within 500 ft. of a Public Park (2nd Degree)
  • (1) Count of Possess Heroin with Intent to Distribute within 500 ft. of a Public Park (2nd Degree)
  • (1) Count of Distribution Heroin within 500 ft. of a Public Park (2nd Degree) 
Dean was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility on $50,000 bail.
 
Jimmy Mauer, 25, of Andover:
 
  • (1) Count of Conspiracy to Possess Heroin (3rd Degree)
  • (1) Count of Possession of Heroin (3rd Degree)
 
Mauer was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility on $10,000 with 10% option bail.
 
Maria McHugh, 28, of Ledgewood:
 
  • (4) Counts of Conspiracy to Possess Heroin (3rd Degree)
  • (1) Count Possession of Heroin (3rd Degree)
 
McHugh was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility on $35,000.00 with 10% option bail.
 
Joseph Pokrzywa, 28, of Hopatcong:
 
  • (5) Counts of Conspiracy to Possess Heroin (3rd Degree)  
  • (5) Counts of Possession of Heroin (3rd Degree)
 
Pokrzywa was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility on $45,000.00 with 10% option bail.
 
The Honorable Stuart A. Minkowitz, P.J.Cr. authorized the warrant complaints and bails for all defendants.
 
Acting Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp said, Tragically, Morris County has seen a significant increase of heroin related deaths. This investigation is a clear example of how the Morris County Prosecutor's Office, in conjunction with our law enforcement partners, will aggressively pursue individuals who are bringing this poison into our communities. Our cooperative effort exemplifies the partnership between county and local authorities to prosecute offenders who are contributing to this heroin overdose epidemic.
 
Acting Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp wishes to thank the Morris County Narcotics Task Force, the Hopatcong Borough, Roxbury Township, Mount Arlington, Mount Olive, Florham Park, Wharton and Morristown Police Departments, the Morris County Sheriff's Office Special Services Division and the Essex County Prosecutor's Office VIPER Bureau for their roles in the investigation and in effectuating these arrests.
 
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, defendants are presumed innocent unless and until he or she has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
 
Any inquiries concerning this case can be directed to Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Bradford Seabury at 973-285-5192 or e-mail bseabury@co.morris.nj.us .
 
 See attached graphic for defendant photos:
 
Defendant Photos
 
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