Morris County Narcotics Task Force Disrupts Multi-County Drug Trafficking Network

Published on December 19, 2018

Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and Chief of Investigations Stephen F. Wilson, Jr. announce the arrests of drug traffickers following an investigation into the importation and distribution of cocaine in Morris County and other counties. Morris County Prosecutor's logo

The investigation resulted in court authorization for 17 arrests, the seizure of more than 150 grams of cocaine, various packaging and drug distribution related materials, and over $5,200 in United States currency. In addition, four vehicles used by the drug network were seized.

Between January 2017 and December 2018, members of the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Special Enforcement Unit/Narcotics Task Force and detectives with the Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department received information that Michael Swanson and multiple associates were importing and distributing cocaine in Morris and surrounding counties.

On December 17, as the result of the wide-ranging distribution network that Michael Swanson operated, directed and controlled, court-ordered search and arrest warrants were executed in Bergen County, where Michael Swanson lives, and Passaic County, where two of his associates live.

The search and arrest warrants were issued by the Morris County Narcotics Task Force, Morris County Prosecutor's Office's Tactical Narcotics Team, and the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office SWAT unit.

The following is a list of individuals charged in the investigation:

  1. Michael Swanson (aka Brian), 41, of Hackensack (arrested)
  2. Keisha Swanson, 42, of Hackensack (arrested)
  3. Joanny Peon (aka JoJo), 38, of Paterson (arrested)
  4. James Gaita, 29, of Paterson (arrested)
  5. Monique Colon, 28, of Ringwood (arrested)
  6. Federico Bado, 35 of Roselle (arrested)
  7. Silvana Ferreira, 33 of Ringwood (arrested)
  8. Eileen Brennan, 52, of Lake Hiawatha (arrested)
  9. Devon Miles, 53, of Boonton (arrested)
  10. Roger Kelly, 70, of Hamburg (arrested)
  11. Kenneth Poust, 52, of Wantage (arrested)
  12. Melinda Romero-Bonilla, 30, of Dover (arrested)
  13. Frank Oliver, 52 of Boonton (arrested)
  14. Cecile J. Aponte, 33 of Paterson (at-large)
  15. David S. Ruddy, 38 of Metuchen (at-large)
  16. Keith Andreasen, 46 of Ogdensburg (at-large)
  17. William Stivaly, 59 of Lake Hiawatha (at-large)

Superior Court Judge Stephen J. Taylor authorized the complaint warrants for the defendants, all of whom are subject to Criminal Justice Reform.

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Prosecutor Knapp stated: This investigation uncovered a far-reaching cocaine distribution network controlled, organized, and directed by Michael Swanson who employed several subordinates to travel throughout Morris County and surrounding counties in their quest to be a full-service drug distribution network.

This network included Swanson's customers who, in turn, were re-sellers that further distributed the cocaine in several locations. This Office remains steadfast in its efforts to battle drug distribution throughout Morris County. I am extremely proud of the efforts and cooperation of all agencies involved.

Prosecutor Fredric A. Knapp Prosecutor Fredric A. Knapp

Prosecutor Knapp thanks the following agencies for their invaluable assistance and commitment to the Narcotics Task Force: units within the Morris County Prosecutor's Office led by the Special Operations Division and the Special Enforcement Unit/Tactical Narcotics Team, Morris County Sheriff's Office K9 Unit, Sussex County Prosecutor's Office, Passaic County Prosecutor's Office, and the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office/Bergen County SWAT unit.

Also, the following police departments: Boonton, Boonton Township, Butler, Denville, Dover, Hackensack, Hanover Township, Jefferson, Kinnelon, Lincoln Park, Morristown, Parsippany, Rockaway Borough, Woodland Park, plus the New Jersey State Police and Morris County Park Police.

The investigation and prosecution is being conducted by the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Special Operations Division. Task Force Officer George Tsimpedes of the Morris County Narcotics Task Force is the lead investigator. Assistant Prosecutor Erin Callahan is assigned to the prosecution.

Table of Charges

Michael Swanson (aka Brian), 41, of Hackensack

(1) Count of Leader of a Drug Trafficking Network (1st degree)

(1) Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree)

(15) Counts of Possession of Cocaine (3rd degree)

(9) Counts of Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine (3rd degree)

(9) Counts of Distribution of Cocaine (3rd degree)

(5) Counts of Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree)

(5) Counts of Distribution of Cocaine (2nd degree)

Michael Swanson was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility. A motion for pretrial detention has been filed and will be heard on Thursday, December 20.

  1. Keisha Swanson, 42, of Hackensack:

(1) Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree)

Keisha Swanson was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility. A motion for pretrial detention has been filed and will be heard on Thursday, December 20.

  1. Joanny Peon, (aka JoJo) 38, of Paterson:

(1) Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree)

(9) Counts of Possession of Cocaine (3rd degree)

(8 ) Counts of Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute (3rd degree)

(8) Counts of Distribution of Cocaine (3rd degree)

  • Count of Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree)
  • Count of Distribution of Cocaine (2nd degree)

Peon was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility. A motion for pretrial detention has been filed and will be heard on Thursday, December 20.

  1. James Gaita, 29, of Paterson:
  • Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree)

(5) Counts of Possession of Cocaine (3rd degree)

(1) Count of Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute (3rd degree)

(1) Count of Distribution of Cocaine (3rd degree)

(4) Counts of Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute (2nd degree)

(4) Counts of Distribution of Cocaine (2nd degree)

Gaita was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility. A motion for pretrial detention has been filed and will be heard on Thursday, December 20.

  1. Monique Colon, 28, of Ringwood:
  • Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (3rd degree)
  • Count of Possession of Cocaine (3rd degree)
  • Count of Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine (3rd degree)
  • Count of Distribution of Cocaine (3rd degree)

Colon was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility and later released with conditions.

  1. Federico Bado, 35 of Roselle

(1) Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (3rd degree)

  • Count of Possession of Cocaine (3rd degree)
  • Count of Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine (3rd degree)
  • Count of Distribution of Cocaine (3rd degree)

Bado was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility and later released with conditons

  1. Silvana Ferreira, 33 of Ringwood
  • Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (3rd degree)
  • Count of Possession of Cocaine (3rd degree)
  • Count of Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine (3rd degree)
  • Count of Distribution of Cocaine (3rd degree)

Ferreira was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility and later released with conditions

  1. Eileen Brennan, 52, of Lake Hiawatha
  • Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree)

Brennan was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility and later released with conditions

  1. Devon Miles, 53, of Boonton
  • Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree)

Miles was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility and later released with conditions

  1. Roger Kelly, 70, of Hamburg
  • Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree)
  • Count of Possession of Cocaine (3rd degree)

Kelly was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility and was later released with conditions

  1. Kenneth Poust, 52, of Wantage
  • Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree)

Poust was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility and later released with conditions

  1. Melinda Romero-Bonilla, 30, of Dover
  • Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (3rd degree)

Romero-Bonilla was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility and later released with conditions

  1. Frank Oliver, 52 of Boonton
  • One Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree)
  • One Count of Possession of Cocaine (3rd degree)

Oliver was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility and later released with conditions

  1. Cecile J. Aponte, 33, of Paterson (at-large)
  • Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (3rd degree)
  • Count of Possession of Cocaine (3rd degree)
  • Count of Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine (3rd degree)
  • Count of Distribution of Cocaine (3rd degree)
  1. David S. Ruddy, 38 of Metuchen (at-large)
  • Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (3rd degree)
  • Count of Possession of Cocaine (3rd degree)
  • Count of Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine (3rd degree)
  • Count of Distribution of Cocaine (3rd degree)
  1. Keith Andreasen, 46 of Ogdensburg (at-large)
  • Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree)
  1. William Stivaly, 59 of Lake Hiawatha, NJ
  • Count of Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine (2nd degree ) (at-large)

If you have information as to the whereabouts of the at-large defendants, please contact your local police department or the Morris County Communications Center at (973) 285-2900.

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