Five Charged, Three Arrested on Narcotics and Child Endangerment Charges in "Operation Splash Down"
Published on March 21, 2014
Acting Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and Morristown Police Chief Peter Demnitz announce that Jhana Wilfong, 38 years old, of Morristown, New Jersey, Jetay D. Hutchins, 38 years old, of Roselle, New Jersey, and Tashia M. Davis, 26 years old, of Morristown, New Jersey have been arrested on numerous narcotics and child endangerment charges. Also charged were Alexander Vargas, 31 years old, of Morristown, New Jersey and Gustavo Ochoa, 27 years old, of Morristown, New Jersey, who are presently being sought by authorities. These arrests and charges are a result of Operation Splash Down, a multi-agency undercover drug interdiction investigation which spanned approximately five months primarily in the Town of Morristown.
The Morris County Prosecutor's Office Special Enforcement Unit, Narcotics Task Force, in conjunction with the Morristown Bureau of Police, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, commenced an investigation in November of 2013 into the alleged narcotics distribution activity of Jhana Wilfong. Jhana Wilfong, known on the street as Nanni and "Splash" is a confirmed member of the Bloods Criminal Street Gang and is currently on Court supervised probation for prior drug related offenses.
Wilfong, AKA "Splash," was allegedly actively importing large quantities of cocaine into Morristown. During the five month operation, the Prosecutor's Office Narcotics Task Force successfully infiltrated Wilfong's drug distribution operation with an undercover detective. The investigation revealed that Wilfong utilized an apartment in Morristown leased by Tashia M. Davis, his girlfriend and the mother of his infant child, as a base of his drug distribution operations. The infant child of Wilfong and Davis was present during multiple drug distributions.
Within the Morristown apartment, Wilfong allegedly processed and re-packaged bulk quantities of cocaine that he allegedly obtained from his source, Jetay D. Hutchins, of Roselle, New Jersey. Wilfong allegedly sold cocaine within 500 feet of Manahan Village, a public housing complex. On occasion, Wilfong allegedly would have associates make street level sales of cocaine on his behalf and at his direction. Two of those associates were identified as Alexander Vargas and Gustavo Ochoa who allegedly sold cocaine directly to an undercover detective on behalf and at the direction of Wilfong.
The undercover Morris County Prosecutor's Office Detective engaged in multiple transactions directly from Wilfong within 500 feet of Manahan Village. During these undercover operations, Wilfong discussed his drug distribution operations and his desire to import even greater quantities of cocaine into Morristown. Wilfong bragged about his customers whom he obtained in local bars in Morristown that he would frequent. In total, the undercover Narcotics Detective purchased over 5 ounces of bulk cocaine from Wilfong and Hutchins, which has a retail street value of approximately $55,000 dollars.
The individual defendants are charged as follows:
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.
Defendants were arrested on March 21, 2014 following an investigation conducted by the Morris County Prosecutor's Office. As a result of the arrests, authorities seized a 2003 Volkswagen Passat; $1300 in United States currency; and over one pound of marijuana. The Morris County Prosecutor's Office will seek forfeiture of the automobile and the currency.
The five month investigation was supervised by Captain Daniel DeGroot and Sergeant Harrison Dillard of the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Narcotics Task Force. Task Force Officers Brett Smith, Jared Sylvin and the Morris County Prosecutor's Office undercover detective led the investigation.
The Honorable Stuart A. Minkowitz, P.J.Cr. set bail at $400,000 cash only for Jhana Wilfong; $350,000 no ten percent for Jetay D. Hutchins; $85,000 no ten percent for Tashia M. Davis. The defendants were unable to post bail and were remanded to the Morris County Correctional Facility.
Acting Prosecutor Knapp stated: Today's arrests demonstrate the efficacy of multi-agency cooperation. Through these cooperative efforts, all agencies involved have been able to investigate and arrest dangerous gang members and their associates who engaged in extremely serious illegal activities. Illicit drug interdiction has been at the forefront of the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Narcotics Task Force. These arrests demonstrate how, along with Task Force Officers from Morristown and other municipalities, we have been able to spearhead these efforts. Operation Splash Down should send a clear signal as to our collective resolve to aggressively target, arrest, and prosecute violent gang members and drug dealers throughout Morris County. It is our intent to enhance the safety and quality of life for all members of our community regardless of their location.
Acting Prosecutor Fredric Knapp personally commended Captain DeGroot, Sergeant Dillard and the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Narcotics Task Force members for the success of this lengthy investigation. Acting Prosecutor Knapp also extended his thanks to Chief Peter Demnitz and the Morristown Police Department, the Morris County Sheriff's Office, and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) whose efforts significantly contributed to these arrests.
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, whose photographs are included herewith, remain at large.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until he or she has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Any inquiries concerning this press release can be directed to First Assistant Morris County Prosecutor/SDAG Thomas Zelante at 973-285-6252 or tzelante@co.morris.nj.us.
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| Alexander Vargas |

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| Gustavo Ochoa
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