Cedar Knolls Man Faces First-Degree Charge for Drug-Induced Fatality

Morris County Prosecutor files stringent charges in a case linked to a lethal overdose in Whippany.

In a significant legal development, Morris County officials have charged Anthony Q. Dello-Russo, 26, of Cedar Knolls, with a first-degree Strict Liability for Drug-Induced Death. This charge stems from a fatal overdose incident that occurred in Whippany, New Jersey, in February 2023.

On February 16, 2023, Whippany law enforcement officers responded to a report of an unconscious male at a local residence. The victim, identified as T.H., aged 28, was pronounced dead at the scene. The Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office attributed T.H.’s death to the combined toxicity of cocaine, fentanyl, and acetyl fentanyl.

Further investigation alleges that Dello-Russo distributed the lethal substances to T.H. on February 15, 2023. Under New Jersey’s stringent drug laws, the charge against Dello-Russo holds him strictly liable for the death resulting from the drugs he purportedly distributed. This severe first-degree crime carries a potential twenty-year prison sentence and stringent parole ineligibility under the No Early Release Act.

Additionally, Dello-Russo faces two counts of third-degree Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance and third-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance in connection with the fatal overdose. These charges add to his previous accusations from December 8, 2023, including second-degree possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana, third-degree possession of the same, and third-degree money laundering. These earlier charges followed the seizure of significant quantities of drugs and over $51,000 in cash from Dello-Russo’s residence.

Dello-Russo is currently detained at the Morris County Correctional Facility, pending further court proceedings, in accordance with the Criminal Justice Reform Act.

This investigation saw collaboration from multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Hanover Township Police Department, Morris County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and Special Enforcement Unit.

Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll emphasized the seriousness with which drug-related fatalities are treated, warning dealers of the strict liabilities they face. He urges anyone with information related to this case to contact the Major Crimes Unit of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office at 973-285-6200.

It is essential to note that a criminal complaint is not a conviction. Dello-Russo remains presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.