Morris Prosecutor: Heroin and Fentanyl Trafficking Duo Enter Guilty Pleas

Published on October 31, 2019

Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp, Chief of Investigations Chris Kimker, and Netcong Police Chief of Police James Blesson announce the guilty pleas of two California men in connection with the trafficking and seizure of approximately 10 kilograms of heroin, 10 kilograms of fentanyl, and $103,886 in U.S. currency, that occurred on the evening of Sept. 18, 2018, in Netcong.(JPG, 8KB)

Vantwuan D. Williams, 45, of Victorville, Ca., entered a guilty plea to first degree possession with intent to distribute five ounces or more of heroin. Superior Court Judge Stephen J. Taylor,at a hearing in Morristown on Wednesday, Oct. 30, presided over the guilty plea. The state will recommend that Williams be sentenced to 12 years in New Jersey State Prison with a 49 month parole disqualifier.

Earl Haggens, 53, of Los Angeles, Ca., entered guilty pleas to first degree possession with intent to distribute five ounces or more of heroin and second degree financial facilitation of criminal activity. Judge Taylor also presided over Mr. Haggens' guilty pleas. The state will recommend that Haggens be sentenced to 15 years in New Jersey State Prison with a 60 month parole disqualifier.

In pleading guilty, the defendants admitted to trafficking a large amount of heroin with the intent to distribute the same. Additionally, Haggens admitted that the currency seized from within the tractor-trailer both men possessed on Sept. 18, 2018, was derived from criminal activity, specifically, the trafficking of narcotics.

(PNG, 19KB) Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp

Both defendants continue to be lodged at the Morris County Correctional Facility. Sentencing has been scheduled for Nov. 22 before Judge Taylor. The state is represented by Morris County Assistant Prosecutor Noelle Fiorentino in this matter.

Prosecutor Knapp stated: Fortunately proactive efforts by Netcong Borough patrol officers halted the distribution of what could have been hundreds of thousands of individual heroin/fentanyl doses.''

"Our community was made safer by this significant narcotics seizure. I want to thank the Morris County Narcotics Taskforce for their significant efforts in investigating these drug traffickers and bringing this case to a successful conclusion.

Prosecutor Knapp would like to thank the efforts of 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 should be directed to Public Information Officer Meghan Knab at pressinquiry@co.morris.nj.us or 973-829-8159.