Authorities Have Charged Two Toms River Men with Illegal Marijuana Sales
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September 22, 2021Authorities Have Charged Two Toms River Men with Illegal Marijuana Sales
Illegal Marijuana Sales
According to the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, two Toms River men are among four people facing criminal charges in connection with an illegal marijuana business in Garfield.
According to Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella, Vincent Scarpulla, 32, and Richard Walenty, 49, both of Toms River, were arrested on Sept. 16 when officials executed search warrants in conjunction with an investigation that began in July. According to Musella's office, the investigation focused on THC JARZ, a storefront in Garfield that was found to be selling recreational marijuana and other THC products. Officials said Scarpulla and Walenty worked for Jaime Costanzo's company, which he owned.
During the investigation, undercover officers bought marijuana and other things from Scarpulla and Walenty at the business, according to officials.
On Sept. 16, investigators from the Narcotics Task Force, Garfield Police Department, and South Hackensack Police Department executed a search warrant at THC JARZ, where they discovered "a large amount" of marijuana, edibles, THC wax and oil, and around $15,000.Costanzo and her husband, Michael Delmoral, had a second search warrant executed at their Wallington home, which resulted in the seizure of around 1 pound of marijuana and drug paraphernalia that officials said was consistent with distribution.
"The unregulated selling of marijuana and THC products remains unlawful," Musella stated, despite recent modifications to New Jersey's marijuana laws. "We urge the people to observe the law and report any illegal transactions to local law enforcement." One count of first-degree maintaining a controlled dangerous substance production facility, one count of first-degree possession with intent to distribute hashish oil, one count of third-degree money laundering, one count of third-degree possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and one count of third-degree distribution of marijuana were all filed against Scarpulla. One count of first-degree maintaining a controlled dangerous substance production facility, one count of first-degree possession with intent to distribute hashish oil, one count of third-degree money laundering, one count of third-degree possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and two counts of third-degree distribution of marijuana/hash oil were filed against Walenty.Costanzo, 40, faces charges of first-degree running a controlled dangerous substance production facility, first-degree possession with intent to distribute hashish oil, third-degree money laundering, and two counts of third-degree possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
Delmoral, 40, was charged with third-degree marijuana possession with the intent to distribute. Scarpulla, Walenty, and Costanzo were all transferred to the Bergen County jail to await their first hearings, according to officials.
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