HOPATCONG � The owner of the River Styx Grill was one of seven individuals arrested in a heroin distribution network that spanned three counties, the Morris County Prosecutor�s Office said today.

By Jessica Masulli Reyes and Joe Carlson

newsroom@njherald.com

HOPATCONG � The owner of the River Styx Grill was one of seven individuals arrested in a heroin distribution network that spanned three counties, the Morris County Prosecutor�s Office said today.

The multi-agency, six-month long investigation led to the arrest of John A. Davieau, 55, of Lake Hopatcong, who allegedly imported more than 1,900 folds of heroin into Morris County for distribution.

Davieau is owner of the Wharton-based company Royal Communications that provided communication needs to law enforcement agencies all over the state and is owner of the Hopatcong restaurant. Search warrants were executed on Tuesday evening at Royal Communications and the River Styx Grill, both locations from which Davieau is charged with distributing heroin, the prosecutor�s office said.

The investigation � which was initiated based upon criminal information received by the Hopatcong Police Department � was spearheaded by the Morris County Prosecutor�s Office, Special Enforcement Unit under the leadership of Captain Daniel DeGroot and Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Bradford Seabury, with the assistance of several other law enforcement agencies.

Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Bradford Seabury said that while the charges have occurred in Sussex, Essex, and Morris County, a majority of the dealing happened in Morris County.

�Tragically, Morris County has seen a significant increase of heroin-related deaths. This investigation is a clear example of how the Morris County Prosecutor�s Office, in conjunction with our law enforcement partners, will aggressively pursue individuals who are bringing this poison into our communities,� Acting Morris County Prosecutor Francis Knapp said in a statement. �Our cooperative effort exemplifies the partnership between county and local authorities to prosecute offenders who are contributing to this heroin overdose epidemic.�

Hopatcong Police Lt. Thomas Kmetz said that four Hopatcong Police officers participated in the execution of multiple search warrants at the restaurant on Tuesday night between 8 and 10 p.m. The restaurant was open for all-you-can-eat taco night. Patrons were told to leave immediately and settle their account with the restaurant owner at a later date.

On Wednesday, the restaurant was roped off with police crime tape.

Hopatcong Mayor Sylvia Petillo said the arrests Tuesday night shocked the community.

�He had a good business reputation and he seemed to be interested in bringing a family restaurant back to the lake. That is what he told us,� Petillo said. �It is disturbing that an upstanding citizen would want to bring a family restaurant here, then end up distributing (drugs) to our kids.�

Davieau had recently opened the River Styx Grill on the site of the former Tidal Wave Bar and Grill.

Davieau is facing 90 counts of various drug distribution and possession charges including 13 counts each of conspiracy to posses heroin, conspiracy to possess heroin with intent to distribute and conspiracy to distribute heroin.

Davieau was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility on $150,000 bail.

Seven others who were also arrested Tuesday night on various drug charges were Frank L. Griffin, 51, of Newark, 19 counts; Amanda Skinner, 25, of Hopatcong, 7 counts; Rachel Dean, 29, of Hopatcong, 10 counts; Jimmy Mauer, 25, of Andover, 2 counts; Maria McHugh, 28, of Ledgewood, 5 counts; and Joseph Pokrzywa, 28, of Hopatcong, 10 counts.

Seabury said that Davieau is still lodged in the correction facility, while some others have made bail.

In addition to the arrests, the investigation and executions of the search warrants, turned up 10 bricks of heroin (500 doses), six vehicles used by the defendants during the illegal activity and $23,000 in proceeds from drug sales.

In addition to the Hopatcong Police and the Morris County Prosecutors Office, the Morris County Narcotics Task Force, the Roxbury Township, Mount Arlington, Mount Olive, Florham Park, Wharton and Morristown Police Departments, the Morris County Sheriff�s Office Special Services Division and the Essex County Prosecutor�s Office VIPER Bureau all assisted in the investigation.

Petillo said the arrests show the people of Sussex County do not want drugs in the area.

�You have to give credit to all the police for working together and sending a strong message in all town, that we don�t want this here,� Petillo said. �All towns have drugs, but this task force will not sit back and let them (drug dealers) target our children.

A call placed to a phone number found on the restaurant�s Facebook page, was answered by an unidentified woman who said, �I have no comment right now. I can�t, I�m sorry.�