Clifton Man Sentenced For His Role In Drug Trafficking Network
Published on March 24, 2017
Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp announces the sentencing of Prentice R. Melton, 49, of Clifton, New Jersey. On Friday, March 24, 2017, the Honorable Stephen J. Taylor, P.J.Cr. sentenced Melton to eight (8) years in New Jersey State Prison. Melton is required to serve forty-eight (48) months before being considered for parole.
On October 24, 2016, Melton entered guilty pleas to second degree Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine and second degree Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Dangerous Substances. As part of the plea agreement, Mr. Melton forfeited $22,000 in United States currency.
In January 2016, members of the Morris County Prosecutor's Office, Special Enforcement Unit/Narcotics Task Force, developed intelligence that Prentice Melton was supplying a significant amount of heroin and cocaine to George Washington and Ronald Washington, who reside in Morris County and have already been prosecuted by this Office for their involvement. The imported cocaine and heroin was sold in Morristown, Victory Gardens, Dover, and surrounding areas. The three (3) month investigation culminated in March 2016, with the arrest of Melton and twenty four (24) other individuals. Also, the execution of several search warrants resulted in the seizure of fifty five (55) grams of cocaine, fourteen hundred (1400) individual folds of heroin, over $33,500 in United States currency, various packaging and drug distribution-related materials, handgun ammunition, and eleven (11) motor vehicles. Mr. Melton is the last defendant sentenced of the twenty-five (25) arrested in connection with the investigation.
Prosecutor Knapp stated, The Morris County Prosecutor's Office will continue to aggressively pursue and prosecute for-profit drug dealers. The sentence imposed today by the Court will hopefully deter those who currently engage in such similar criminal activity, and those who are considering this unlawful practice.
The investigation was completed by the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Special Operations Division. The lead investigators on the case were Task Force Officer Edward Zienowicz of the Morris County Narcotics Task Force and Detective Scott Pino of the Morristown Bureau of Police. The case was prosecuted by Morris County Prosecutor's Office Assistant Prosecutor Erin Callahan.
Prosecutor Knapp wishes to thank the following agencies for their invaluable assistance and commitment to the Task Force: Morris County Prosecutor's Office Special Enforcement Unit, Passaic County Prosecutor's Office, Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, Morris County Sheriff's Office, Morris County Park Police, New Jersey State Police, Morristown Bureau of Police, Florham Park Police Department, Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department, Dover Police Department, Roxbury Township Police Department, Morris Township Police Department, Mendham Township Police Department, Chester Township Police Department, Madison Borough Police Department, Chatham Township Police Department, Chatham Borough Police Department, Chester Borough Police Department, Fairfield Police Department, Randolph Township Police Department, Butler Police Department, Mt. Arlington Police Department, Lincoln Park Police Department, Harding Township Police Department, Wharton Borough Police Department, Jefferson Township Police Department, Hopatcong Police Department, Hanover Township Police Department, Rockaway Township Police Department, Morris Plains Police Department, and the Clifton Police Department.
Inquiries concerning this press release should be directed to Public Information Officer Paul Merkler at pressinquiry@co.morris.nj.us or 973-285-6215.