Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp announces the arrest of several high level marijuana traffickers following a several month long drug investigation into the head of east coast operations.
Arrested are Salman “Tito” Khalid, 25, of Wharton Borough, James E. Matthews, 50, of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Kernley Saint-Victor, 25 of Clifton.
Members of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Special Enforcement Unit, received information from numerous individuals regarding a multi-state marijuana distribution network locally controlled by Salman “Tito” Khalid, 25, of Wharton Borough.
Salman Khalid was receiving significant quantities of marijuana weekly in Morris County. A tip revealed that Khalid was going to receive a delivery of marijuana on March 3.
On that day, an individual later identified as James E. Matthews was observed operating a Ford F-350 with an attached trailer.
Matthews, with the assistance of Khalid, were observed by law enforcement unloading several large cardboard boxes at Khalid’s residence.
Police conducted a motor vehicle stop of Matthews at the direction of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, after K-9 patrol alerted to the presence of controlled dangerous substance within the vehicle and trailer, a search warrant was obtained.
Matthews was released by law enforcement at the scene pending the search warrant application.
After a search warrant was approved,law enforcement officials located and seized roughly 360 pounds of marijuana from the interior of the vehicle and trailer. This bulk seizure has an estimated retail street value of over $1 million dollars.
In addition, approximately $124,000.00 in U.S. currency was also located during the search. The marijuana and money were contained in vacuum sealed pouches located within several large cardboard boxes, duffle bags and storage bins. Police also located a large quantity of marijuana “wax” which is an extremely dangerous and potent derivative of marijuana that contains high concentrations of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol).
It was later determined that Matthews fled the area after he was released from the scene of the motor vehicle stop. He was located in Indianapolis, Indiana on March 5, 2015 and was arrested by the Indianapolis Police Department. He was found in his possession was $73,000.00 in U.S. currency.
Matthews was taken into custody and has been charged with first-degree Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance, second-degree Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance, second-degree Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity (Money Laundering), and fourth-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance. Matthews is currently lodged in an Indianapolis jail awaiting extradition to Morris County, New Jersey.
Police searched the Wharton residence controlled by Khalid and the vehicle of one of Khalid’s customers, Kernley Saint-Victor.
These searches revealed multiple pounds of marijuana and an additional $9,000 dollars in cash, both of which were seized.
Salman “Tito” Khalid was charged with second-degree Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance, second-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with the Intent to Distribute, third-degree Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity and fourth-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance. Khalid is currently lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility with a $200,000.00 bail as well as a no bail Intensive Supervision Program (ISP) Detainer out of Hudson County, New Jersey for a prior Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance conviction.
Saint-Victor was charged with second-degree Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance, third-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with the Intent to Distribute, and fourth-degree Possession of Marijuana. Saint-Victor is currently lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility with a $200,000.00 bail.
The Honorable Stuart A. Minkowitz, P.J.Cr. authorized the warrant complaints and bails for all defendants.
All cash seized and three (3) vehicles and trailer are all subject to civil forfeiture.
Anyone with information about this investigation, is asked to call the Morris County Prosecutor's Office, Special Enforcement Unit at 973-285-6300