Fourteen area residents arrested in cocaine bust

Police claim ring ran from Ringwood to Northvale and West Milford West Milford — Fourteen people, including two from Highland Lakes, were arrested on a variety of drug-related charges after a two-month investigation conducted by the Narcotics, Gangs and Violent Crimes Task Force of the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office along with the Ringwood Police Department. The arrests were made Dec. 22. According to police, during November and December of 2009, the joint investigation revealed that Anthony B. Vandunk, 25, distributed cocaine, crack cocaine and prescription drugs from his residence in Ringwood and from the residence of Dennis Milligan, 30, in West Milford. Further, police charge that Travis Thompson was involved in a drug distribution operation from a residence located in Northvale. Another 11 area residents were arrested and charged along with them. According to a report from the Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Chief Bernard Lombardo of the Ringwood Police Department, search warrants for the homes of Vandunk and Milligan, led law enforcement officials to recover a quantity of cocaine, crack cocaine, prescription legend drugs, a 2004 BMW and approximately $2,000. Vandunk was charged with one count of leader of a narcotics trafficking network, a first-degree crime; two counts of conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance (cocaine and crack cocaine), second-degree crimes; one count of conspiracy to distribute a CDS (prescription legend drugs in excess of 100 doses), a second-degree crime; two counts of possession of CDS (cocaine and crack cocaine), third-degree crimes; two counts of possession of controlled dangerous substance (oxycotin and percocet). The leader of a narcotics trafficking network charge carries a sentence of life imprisonment during which the person must serve 25 years before being eligible for parole. The conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance charges each carry a maximum of up to 10 years in New Jersey State Prison. The possession of controlled dangerous substance charges each carry a maximum of up to five years in New Jersey State Prison. Milligan was charged with two counts of conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance (crack cocaine and cocaine), second-degree crimes; and one count of conspiracy to distribute a CDS (prescription legend drugs in an amount less than 100 doses). Thompson was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance (cocaine), a second-degree crime. That charge carries a potential maximum sentence of up to 10 years in New Jersey State Prison. While the joint investigation charges that during November and December of 2009, Vandunk distributed cocaine, crack cocaine and prescription drugs from his Ringwood home and from Milligan’s, police also say Thompson’s home was used for drug sales. The following 11 individuals were also arrested for their participation in numerous drug related offenses: Jonathan Vandunk, 24, of Ringwood; Kayla Vandunk, 23, of Ringwood; Jeffrey L. Vandunk, 32, of West Milford; William C. Maim, 43, of Ringwood; Bruce W. McPherson, 34, of Ringwood; Tyrone Milligan, 42, of Wanaque; Jack O. Whritenour, 27, of Hewitt; Alesha Labosco, 24, of West Milford; Pamela N. Picano, 30, of Northvale; Charlotte F. Giarratano, 40, of Highland Lakes, and Edward J. Giarratano, 42, of Highland Lakes. All 14 were arraigned in municipal court. Bail was set in the amount of $150,000 for Anthony Vandunk, Dennis Milligan, and Travis Thompson. Bail was set in the amount of $75,000 and $50,000 for the remaining defendants depending on the degree of the crimes charged.