Newark man admits supplying heroin to Hopatong restaurateur accused of leading drug ring
Seven people arrested in the heroin distribution ring included Frank Griffin, top, and John Davieau, second from the top. Frank L. Griffin acknowledged that over a four-month period ending in August, he sold heroin on a weekly basis to John Davieau, 55, a Jefferson resident who owns the River Styx Grill and formerly was co-owner of Royal Communications, a Wharton-based company that sold communications equipment to law enforcement agencies across New Jersey.
Griffin, who had faced 19 separate drug-related charges, pleaded guilty in Superior Court in Morristown to a single count of conspiracy to possess heroin with intent to distribute.
Under his plea agreement with the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Griffin will be sentenced to six years in state prison and must serve three years before becoming eligible for parole. His sentencing was scheduled for Jan. 24.
Under questioning from Morris County Assistant Prosecutor Bradford Seabury, Griffin said that Davieau would typically “call me or text” each week and “order up a certain amount of heroin,” specifying the type he wanted to buy. Davieau would then drive his pick-up truck into Newark to get the heroin.
Davieau would usually buy 10 “bricks” at a time, Griffin said. During the final three weeks, from July 22 to Aug. 6, Davieau picked up a total of 1,900 individual “folds,” or single doses of heroin, Griffin said.
As part of the agreement, Griffin agreed to forfeit two motor vehicles used in the heroin trade along with $2,000 in cash that he said Davieau paid him for heroin on Aug. 6, the date Davieau, Griffin and five others were arrested.
Two women who were heroin users pleaded guilty last month and identified Davieau as their supplier.
Davieau, meanwhile, also appeared in court today and attorneys for the two sides said they had come close to reaching a plea agreement, but had failed to resolve all the issues.
Davieau’s attorney, Vincent Nuzzi, said there was one issue that remained unresolved, pending a decision by Judge Mary Gibbons Whipple.
Nuzzi declined to say what that issue was. However, he said he hoped to resolve it by Friday because there is presently a buyer for the restaurant but “we are in danger of losing the buyer.” The restaurant had been listed for sale for $750,000.
Seabury said the prosecutor’s plea offer involved a five-year prison term for Davieau along with “civil forfeiture” sought by the prosecutor’s office in a lawsuit involving vehicles, cash and a portion of the restaurant’s value.
“Plea negotiations have fallen apart,” Seabury said, adding that he expects the case to go to a grand jury for a possible indictment.
Nuzzi, on the other hand, held out hope for a resolution, saying “we made a counter-offer” and “the judge is considering that.”
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• Prosecutor wants to forfeit restaurant, vehicles and money used by alleged heroin ring
• Residents protesting River Styx Grill after owner accused of role in heroin ring
• Two women plead guilty to heroin possession and say they got it from restaurant owner
• For sale: $750,000 for Hopatcong restaurant connected to heroin investigation
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