Multi-Kilo Drug Traffickers Sentenced to State Prison
Published on December 09, 2019
December 9, 2019
Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp, Acting Chief of Investigations Chris Kimker, and Netcong Borough Chief of Police James Blesson, announce that two men have been sentenced for their involvement in trafficking approximately ten (10) kilograms of heroin, ten (10) kilograms of fentanyl, and $103,886 of narcotics proceeds seized, on September 18, 2018, in Netcong, New Jersey.
Vantwuan D. Williams, age 45, of Victorville, California was sentenced by the Honorable Stephen J. Taylor, P.J.Cr. on December 6, 2019 to eleven (11) years in New Jersey State Prison with a forty-four (44) month parole disqualifier as a result of his previous guilty plea to the crime of first degree possession with intent to distribute heroin in a quantity of five ounces or more. Williams had previously pled guilty to this crime on October 30, 2019.
Earl Haggens, 53, of Los Angeles, California, was sentenced by the Honorable Stephen J. Taylor, P.J.Cr. on December 6, 2019 to fifteen (15) years in New Jersey State Prison with a sixty (60) month parole disqualifier as a result of his previous guilty pleas to the crimes of first degree possession with intent to distribute heroin in a quantity of five ounces or more and second degree financial facilitation of criminal activity. Haggens had previously pled guilty to these crimes on October 30, 2019.
During the evening of September 18, 2018, a Netcong Patrol Officer conducted a stop of a tractor-trailer for a motor vehicle violation on Main Street in Netcong Borough. After the officer was presented with multiple false names by the truck driver, law enforcement developed probable cause that the occupants of the vehicle were transporting illegal narcotics. A search of the trailer revealed a bulk quantity of heroin (approximately 10 kilograms) and a bulk quantity of fentanyl (approximately 10 kilograms) hidden among a cargo shipment of onions in the trailer. Police also located $103,886 US currency, the product of narcotics proceeds, in the tractor.
The total street value of the seized narcotics is in excess of $1,000,000.
Prosecutor Knapp stated: The sentences imposed to these defendants will, hopefully, send a message to others that trafficking in these deadly drugs will not be tolerated in Morris County.
Prosecutor Knapp would like to thank the Netcong Police officers who commenced this investigation and the entire Netcong Borough Police Department, Morris County Prosecutor's Office Special Enforcement Unit, and the Morris County Sheriff's Office Canine Unit, which assisted at the scene.
Inquiries concerning this press release should be directed to Public Information Officer Meghan Knab at pressinquiry@co.morris.nj.us or 973-829-8159.