Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotic Task Force Raids illegal marijuana dispensary

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Garfield  NJ , Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of JAIME  COSTANZO (DOB: 9/05/1981; married; business owner of THC JARZ) of 115 Wallington Ave., 1st Floor, Wallington, NJ;  MICHAEL DELMORAL (DOB: 3/10/1981; married; unemployed) of 115 Wallington Ave., 1st Floor, Wallington, NJ; VINCENT SCARPULLA (DOB: 4/03/1989; single; cashier) of 802 Main Street, Apt 20B, Toms River, NJ; and RICHARD WALENTY (DOB: 10/19/1971; single; cashier) of 524 Bash Road, Toms River, NJ, on drug-related offenses.  The arrests are the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jason Love and the Garfield Police Department under the direction of Chief Raymond Kovach.

During July 2021, an investigation initiated by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotic Task Force (“BCPO NTF”) and the Garfield Police Department revealed that a store-front business named “THC JARZ” located at 517 River Road, Garfield, NJ, was operating as an illegal marijuana dispensary selling recreational marijuana and various THC products to the general public.  Additionally, detectives learned that JAIME COSTANZO was reporting herself to be the owner and operator of the business, and that VINCENT SCARPULLA and RICHARD WALENTY were employees of the illegal dispensary.

During the course of this investigation, undercover detectives from the BCPO NTF purchased marijuana and other THC products from VINCENT SCARPULLA and RICHARD WALENTY at “THC JARZ.”

On September 16, 2021, detectives from the BCPO NTF, the Garfield Police Department, and the South Hackensack Police Department executed a court authorized search warrant at “THC JARZ,” where detectives located and seized a substantial amount of marijuana, THC edibles, THC wax/oil, and approximately $15,000.00.  Detectives also executed a court authorized search warrant at JAIME COSTANZO and MICHAEL DELMORAL’s residence in Wallington, NJ, which led to seizure of approximately one additional pound of marijuana and drug paraphernalia consistent with distribution.

Pursuant to the investigation, JAIME COSTANZO, VINCENT SCARPULLA, RICHARD WALENTY and MICHAEL DELMORAL were all arrested without incident.

JAIME COSTANZO was charged with one count of first-degree maintaining a controlled dangerous substance production facility, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-4; one count of first-degree possession with intent to distribute hashish oil, N.J.S.A 2C:35-5b(10)(a); one count of third-degree money laundering, N.J.S.A. 2C:25-21a; and two counts of third-degree possession with intent to distribute marijuana, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(11).

VINCENT SCARPULLA was charged with one count of first-degree maintaining a controlled dangerous substance production facility, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-4; one count of first-degree possession with intent to distribute hashish oil, N.J.S.A 2C:35-5b(10)(a); one count of third-degree money laundering, N.J.S.A. 2C:25-21a; one count of third-degree possession with intent to distribute marijuana, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(11); and one count of third-degree distribution of marijuana, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(11).

RICHARD WALENTY was charged with one count of first-degree maintaining a controlled dangerous substance production facility, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-4; one count of first-degree possession with intent to distribute hashish oil, N.J.S.A 2C:35-5b(10)(a); one count of third-degree money laundering, N.J.S.A. 2C:25-21a; one count of third-degree possession with intent to distribute marijuana, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(11); and two counts of third-degree distribution of marijuana/hash oil, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(11).

MICHAEL DELMORAL was charged with one count of third-degree possession with intent to distribute marijuana, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(11).  He was released on a summons.

COSTANZO, SCARPULLA, AND WALENTY were remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending their first appearances in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack, NJ.

Prosecutor Musella said, “Despite the recent changes to New Jersey’s marijuana laws, the unregulated sale of marijuana and THC products remains illegal.  We encourage the public to be mindful of the law and to report such sales to local law enforcement.”

Prosecutor Mark Musella states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and he would like to thank the Garfield Police Department, the South Hackensack Police Department, and the Wallington Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.