Special Enforcement Unit/Narcotics Task Force Receives Commendations
Published on April 24, 2024
On April 23, 2024, Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, First Assistant Prosecutor Maggie Calderwood, and Chief of Detectives Robert McNally issued a commendation to members of the Special Enforcement Unit/Narcotics Task Force for their work investigating and prosecuting first-degree drug distribution case.
The following members were honored, in alphabetical order:
- Sergeant Jimmy Atoche (Morris County Prosecutor’s Office)
- Task Force Officer Sam Berthoud (Dover Police Department)
- Detective Bryan Blauvelt (Morris County Prosecutor’s Office)
- Lieutenant James Bruno (Morris County Prosecutor’s Office)
- Senior Assistant Prosecutor Erin Callahan (Morris County Prosecutor’s Office)
- Captain Joseph Costello (Morris County Prosecutor’s Office)
- Detective Supervisor Luis Goncalves (Morris County Prosecutor’s Office)
- Detective Kerri Griffin (Morris County Prosecutor’s Office)
- Sergeant Thomas Joiner (Morris County Prosecutor’s Office)
- Christian Rojas (Morris County Prosecutor’s Office)
- Detective Supervisor Jeffrey Taylor (Morris County Prosecutor’s Office)
- Task Force Officer Scott Weaver (Morristown Police Department)
- Task Force Officer Edward Zienowicz (Morris County Prosecutor’s Office)
The Special Enforcement Unit/Narcotics Task Force initiated an investigation in mid-2022, which culminated in a drug distribution operation on October 11, 2022, by members of the task force, Dover Police Department, the Roxbury Police Department, the Wharton Police Department, and the Morristown Police Department. During this operation, over 250 grams of cocaine were seized, along with drug packaging paraphernalia, currency, and multiple cellphones. On October 11, 2022, Maurice Nobles was arrested but Tyson McCoy, 43, of Dover, had evaded apprehension. What followed was a six-week-long investigation to locate McCoy, consisting of multiple agencies including the MCPO, FBI, and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations Fugitive Apprehension Team.
During this investigation, exhaustive leads - in concert with highly sophisticated investigative techniques - were successfully utilized, producing a lead in Virginia. From there, McCoy was traced to North Carolina. McCoy was ultimately captured and arrested in North Carolina on November 22, 2022.
On February 22, 2023, McCoy pleaded guilty to Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance Cocaine, in violation of 2C:35-5a(1) and 2C:35-5b(2); and Obstruction of the Administration of the Law, in violation of 2C:29-1a. On June 6, 2023, Judge Noah Franzblau sentenced McCoy to eight (8) years in prison on the distribution charge, and 18 months in prison on the obstruction charge.
On February 22, 2023, Nobles pleaded guilty to Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance—Cocaine, in violation of N.J.S. 2C:25-5a(1) and 2C:35-5b(2). On June 6, 2023, Judge Noah Franzblau sentenced Nobles to seven (7) years in New Jersey State Prison.
Prosecutor Carroll said, “I am proud of the exemplary efforts of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Special Enforcement Unit, as well as all of our law enforcement partners of the Narcotics Task Force who aided in the investigation.”