MORRISTOWN, NJ (Morris County) – Authorities announced the arrest of several individuals accused of operating a cocaine distribution network following the execution of search warrants at three locations in Morristown.
Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, Morris County Sheriff James Gannon, Morristown Police Chief Darnell Richardson, and FBI Newark Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Terence G. Reilly said that, on February 27, a joint investigation resulted in the arrest of 10 individuals and the seizure of controlled dangerous substances (CDS), paraphernalia, and over $15,000 in U.S. currency.
The investigation revealed that the charged individuals allegedly participated in a drug distribution network that was particularly active in Morristown. Search warrants were executed by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Special Operations Division Tactical Team, the Morris County Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team (SERT), and Morristown Police on February 27, at three residences on Orchard Street, Clyde Potts Drive, and Clyde Potts Court, as well as five vehicles.
The following individuals were arrested as a result of this investigation:
Naire Burnett, 34, of Morristown, was charged with the following:
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- 1 count of First-Degree Leader of a Narcotics Trafficking Network
- 1 count of Second-Degree Employing a Juvenile in a CDS Distribution Scheme
- 1 count of Second-Degree Conspiracy to Employ a Juvenile in a CDS Distribution Scheme
- 1 count of Second-Degree Conspiracy to Distribute CDS
- 1 count of Second-Degree Possession with the Intent to Distribute CDS
- 1 count of Third-Degree Possession of CDS
- 1 count of Third-Degree Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering
- 1 count of Third-Degree Money Laundering
Kasey Montilla, 30, of Morristown, was charged with the following:
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- 1 count of First-Degree Leader of a Narcotics Trafficking Network
- 1 count of Second-Degree Employing a Juvenile in a CDS Distribution Scheme
- 1 count of Second-Degree Conspiracy to Employ a Juvenile in a CDS Distribution Scheme
- 1 count of Second-Degree Conspiracy to Distribute CDS
- 1 count of Second-Degree Possession with the Intent to Distribute CDS
- 1 count of Third-Degree Possession of CDS
- 1 count of Third-Degree Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering
- 1 count of Third-Degree Money Laundering
Deshawn Turpin, 31, of Morristown, was charged with the following:
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- 1 count of Second-Degree Employing a Juvenile in a CDS Distribution Scheme
- 1 count of Second-Degree Conspiracy to Employ a Juvenile in a CDS Distribution Scheme
- 1 count of Second-Degree Conspiracy to Distribute CDS
- 1 count of Second-Degree Possession with the Intent to Distribute CDS
- 1 count of Third-Degree Possession of CDS
- 1 count of Third-Degree Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering
- 1 count of Third-Degree Money Laundering
Dayvon Rawls, 23, of Morristown, was charged with the following:
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- 1 count of Second-Degree Employing a Juvenile in a CDS Distribution Scheme
- 1 count of Second-Degree Conspiracy to Employ a Juvenile in a CDS Distribution Scheme
- 1 count of Second-Degree Conspiracy to Distribute CDS
- 1 count of Third-Degree Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering
Christopher Luke, 23, of Morristown, was charged with the following:
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- 1 count of Second-Degree Employing a Juvenile in a CDS Distribution Scheme
- 1 count of Second-Degree Conspiracy to Employ a Juvenile in a CDS Distribution Scheme
- 1 count of Second-Degree Conspiracy to Distribute CDS
- 1 count of Third-Degree Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering
- 1 count of Third-Degree Money Laundering
Jamie Cheatham, 37, of Morristown, was charged with the following:
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- 1 count of Second-Degree Employing a Juvenile in a CDS Distribution Scheme
- 1 count of Second-Degree Conspiracy to Employ a Juvenile in a CDS Distribution Scheme
- 1 count of Second-Degree Conspiracy to Distribute CDS
- 1 count of Third-Degree Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering
Rebecca Dempster, 28, of Boonton, was charged with the following:
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- 1 count of Second-Degree Employing a Juvenile in a CDS Distribution Scheme
- 1 count of Second-Degree Conspiracy to Employ a Juvenile in a CDS Distribution Scheme
- 1 count of Second-Degree Conspiracy to Distribute CDS
- 1 count of Second-Degree Possession with the Intent to Distribute CDS
- 1 count of Third-Degree Possession of CDS
- 1 count of Third-Degree Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering
- 1 count of Third-Degree Money Laundering
Alex Gabriel Arguenta-Dominguez, 38, of Morristown, was charged with the following:
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- 1 count of Third-Degree Conspiracy to Possess a Controlled Dangerous Substance
Samuel McKlin, 62, of Boonton, NJ, was charged with the following:
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- 1 count of Third-Degree Conspiracy to Possess a Controlled Dangerous Substance
Shane Scarlett, 33, of Dover, was charged with the following:
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- 1 count of Third-Degree Conspiracy to Possess a Controlled Dangerous Substance
Burnett, Montilla, Turpin, Rawls, Cheatham, Luke, and Dempster remain lodged at the Morris County Correctional Facility, pending court proceedings.
Argueta-Dominguez, Scarlett, and McKlin were charged and released pending a court appearance.
Law enforcement agencies that participated in this investigation include members of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Morris County Sheriff’s Office, Morristown Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Morris Township Police, Morris Plains Police, Dover Police, and Parsippany-Troy Hills Police.
“This is a continuing investigation into what we allege is a well-organized drug distribution network, centered in Morristown. These arrests are the result of a six-month-long cooperative operation between the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Morris County Sheriff’s Office, Morristown Police Department, Newark FBI, and assisting agencies. Cooperative investigations of this nature targeting criminal organizations are vital, and are an efficient use of intelligence and resources. I thank Sheriff Gannon, FBI SAC Reilly, and Morristown Police Chief Richardson for their efforts in supporting this important investigation. I want to especially commend MCPO Lt. James Bruno, MCPO Sgt. Jimmy Atoche, and Morristown Police Det. Scott Weaver for their efforts in this investigation, and Chief Assistant Prosecutor Brad Seabury and Senior Assistant Prosecutor Erin Callahan for their legal and investigational guidance,” Carroll said.
“I applaud the good work of our investigators who have disrupted such a large and organized drug network, operating right here in the heart of Morris County. The alleged members were part of a dangerous and organized network that has caused significant harm to our community. Morris County is fortunate to have forged such strong partnerships between its law enforcement agencies, which is vital to stopping the spread of drug trafficking and ensuring the safety of all residents,” Gannon said.
“The Morristown Bureau of Police and its dedicated officers remain steadfast in our commitment to safeguarding our community and addressing concerns that impact the quality of life of our residents. In response to multiple complaints, we initiated a joint operation with the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Morris County Sheriff’s Office, and our law enforcement partners to target these criminal activities. This collaborative effort underscores our unwavering dedication to keeping our streets safe and ensuring that those who seek to harm our community are held accountable,” Richardson said.
Morristown Police Chief Richardson urges community members to continue reporting quality-of-life concerns by calling 973-538-2200.
