January 18, 2008: Morris County Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi, Esq., announces the sentencing of Hopatcong resident Rodney Scott, age 29, on two counts of Second Degree Distribution of Cocaine.

The charges are the result of investigations conducted by both the Mount Olive Township Police Department and Roxbury Township Police Department.

On April 27, 2007, Mount Olive Township Police observed the defendant engage in a drug transaction. The defendant was arrested and released after posting bail. Then, on August 7, 2007, Roxbury Township police officers observed the defendant engage in a drug transaction in their jurisdiction. The defendant was again arrested and held in the Morris County Correctional Facility in lieu of $100,000.00 bail.

The defendant pled guilty on December 18, 2007. Judge Salem Vincent Ahto sentenced the defendant to seven years in New Jersey State Prison with three years of parole ineligibility. Additionally, the defendant was required to forfeit a total of $4,535.00.

Prosecutor Bianchi commended the proactive investigative actions of the Mount Olive Township and Roxbury Township Police Departments. "The actions of the police officers allowed us to pursue this second degree case which resulted in a significant term of incarceration."

Media Contact: Agent Robyn D'Onofrio