Cocaine Distribution Ring Busted in Morristown After 5-Month Sting Operation

A five-month long undercover operation by area law enforcement agencies led to the arrest of two Morristown residents and a Roselle men for their parts in a cocaine distribution ring, Acting Morris County Prosecutor Fredric Knapp announced Friday.

Jhana Wilfong, 38, the mother of his infant child, Tashia Davis, 26, both of Morristown, along with Jetay D. Hutchins, 38, of Roselle were all taken into custody as part of Operation Splash Down. Two other Morristown men were also charged but are still being sought by police.

An investigation into activities by Wilfong, also known as “Nanni” and “Splash,” and a known Bloods street gang member began in November, Knapp said. He is currently on court supervised probation for prior drug related offenses.

Knapp charges that Wilfong was using Davis’s Morristown apartment as base for his drug distribution operations, as he repackaged cocaine – obtained from Hutchins – and sold the drug on numerous occasions in Morristown.

Wilfong and Davis’s infant child was present during multiple drug distributions at the apartment, Knapp said. Wilfong is accused of selling cocaine within 500 feet of Manahan Village, a public housing complex.

The two men charged but still on the loose, Alexander Vargas, 31, and Gustavo Ochoa, 27, both of Morristown, were used as associates to carry out street level sales on behalf of Wilfong, Knapp said.

An undercover Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Detective engaged in multiple transactions directly from Wilfong within 500 feet of Manahan Village, Knapp said. During the sting, Wilfong discussed his drug distribution operations and desire to import even larger amounts of cocaine into Morristown, Knapp said.

During the investigation, the undercover officer obtained more than five ounces of bulk cocaine from Wilfong and Hutchins which has a street value of about $55,000.

The following charges have been lodged against each of the persons involved:

Jhana Wilfong:

• Six (6) counts of Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, specifically cocaine, a crime of the third degree.
• Two (2) counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, specifically cocaine, in a quantity less than one half ounce, a crime of the third degree.
• Two (2) counts of Distributing a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, specifically cocaine, in a quantity less than one half ounce, a crime of the third degree.
• Four (4) counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, specifically cocaine, in a quantity greater than one half ounce, a crime of the second degree.
• Four (4) counts of Distributing a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, specifically cocaine, in a quantity greater than one half ounce,  a crime of the second degree.
• Six (6) counts of Distribution of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, specifically cocaine, within 500 feet of Public Housing, a crime of the second degree.
• Six (6) counts of Distribution of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, specifically cocaine, within 500 feet of a public park, a crime of the second degree.
• One (1) count of Conspiracy to Distribute a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, specifically cocaine, in a quantity less than one half ounce with Gustavo Ochoa, a crime of the third degree.
• One (1) count of Conspiracy to Distribute a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, specifically cocaine, in a quantity less than one half ounce with Alexander Vargas, a crime of the third degree.
• Four (4) counts of Conspiracy to Distribute a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, specifically cocaine, in a quantity greater than one half ounce with Jetay Hutchins, a crime of the second degree.
• One (1) count of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, specifically cocaine, in a quantity greater than five (5) ounces, a crime of the first degree.
• One (1) count of Distribution of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, specifically cocaine, in a quantity greater than five (5) ounces, a crime of the first degree.
• One (1) count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, specifically by having a child under 18 years of age present during the distribution of CDS, a crime of the second degree.
• One (1) count of Abuse and Neglect of a Child, specifically by exposing a child under 18 years of age to the immoral act of CDS distribution, a crime of the fourth degree.

Jetay D. Hutchins:

• Four (4) counts of Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, specifically cocaine, a crime of the third degree.
• Four (4) counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, specifically cocaine, in a quantity greater than one half ounce, a crime of the second degree.
• Four (4) counts of Distributing a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, specifically cocaine, in a quantity greater than one half ounce,  a crime of the second degree.
• Four (4) counts of Distribution of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, specifically cocaine, within 500 feet of Public Housing, a crime of the second degree.
• Four (4) counts of Distribution of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, specifically cocaine, within 500 feet of a public park, a crime of the second degree.
• Four (4) counts of Conspiracy to Distribute a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, specifically cocaine, in a quantity greater than one half ounce with Jhana Wilfong, a crime of the second degree.
• One (1) count of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, specifically cocaine, in a quantity greater than five (5) ounces, a crime of the first degree.
• One (1) count of Distribution of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, specifically cocaine, in a quantity greater than five (5) ounces, a crime of the first degree.

Alexander Vargas:

• One (1) count of Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, specifically cocaine, a crime of the third degree.
• One (1) count of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, specifically cocaine, in a quantity less than one half ounce, a crime of the third degree.
• One (1) count of Distributing a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, specifically cocaine, in a quantity less than one half ounce, a crime of the third degree.
• One (1) count of Distribution of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, specifically cocaine, within 500 feet of Public Housing, a crime of the second degree.
• One (1) count of Distribution of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, specifically cocaine, within 500 feet of a public park, a crime of the second degree.
• One (1) count of Conspiracy to Distribute  a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous, specifically cocaine, Substance in a quantity less than one half ounce with Jhana Wilfong, a crime of the third degree. 

Gustavo Ochoa:

• One (1) count of Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, specifically cocaine, a crime of the third degree.
• One (1) count of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, specifically cocaine, in a quantity less than one half ounce, a crime of the third degree.
• One (1) count of Distributing a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, specifically cocaine, in a quantity less than one half ounce,  a crime of the third degree.
• One (1) count of Distribution of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, specifically cocaine, within 500 feet of Public Housing, a crime of the second degree.
• One (1) count of Distribution of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, specifically cocaine, within 500 feet of a public park, a crime of the second degree.
• One (1) count of Conspiracy to Distribute  a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, specifically cocaine, in a quantity less than one half ounce with Jhana Wilfong, a crime of the third degree.

Tashia M. Davis 

• One (1) count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, specifically by having a child under 18 years of age present during the distribution of CDS, a crime of the second degree.
• One (1) count Abuse and Neglect of a Child, specifically by exposing a child under 18 years of age to the immoral act of CDS distribution, a crime of the fourth degree.

During the arrest of the three individuals Friday, authorities seized a 2003 Volkswagen Passat; $1,300; and more than a pound of marijuana. 

Wilfong was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility on $400,000 cash only bail. Hutchins lodged in lieu of $350,000 bail, no 10-percent option, and Davis lodged on $85,000 bail with no 10-percent option. 

Anyone with information relating to these charges is urged to contact Sergeant Harrison Dillard of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Special Enforcement Unit at 973-285-6300. Defendants Alexander Vargas and Gustavo Ochoa remain at large.