Morris Prosecutor: Multi-Kilo Drug Traffickers Sentenced to State Prison

Published on December 01, 2019

Netcong Police Credited with Discovering the Trafficking

Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp, Acting Chief of Investigations Chris Kimker, and Netcong Police Chief James Blesson announce that two California men have been sentenced to state prison for their involvement in trafficking heroin and fentanyl in 2018 in Netcong.

Vantwuan D. Williams, 45, of Victorville, Ca., was sentenced on Dec. 6 by the Superior Court Judge Stephen Taylor to 11 years in New Jersey State Prison with a 44-month parole disqualifier.

Earl Haggens, 53, of Los Angeles, was sentenced by Judge Taylor on Dec. 6 to 15 years in New Jersey State Prison with a 60 month parole disqualifier.

During the evening of Sept. 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 U.S. currency, the product of narcotics proceeds, in the tractor.

The total street value of the seized narcotics is in excess of $1 million.

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 should be directed to Public Information Officer Meghan Knab at pressinquiry@co.morris.nj.us or 973-829-8159.