Probation For Morris County Cops Who Pled Guilty To Drug Charges

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ - Five Morris County police officers who pled guilty to drug offenses In October were sentenced to probation Thursday, according to authorities.

The sentencing comes as the culmination of a narcotics investigation that resulted in the arrest of four Morris County correction officers and one Morris County Sheriff's officer for drug-related offenses.

Corrections Sergeant Dominick Andico, 33, and officers Albert Wyman IV, 36, and Robert Busold, 27, each received three years of probation during a virtual hearing in state Superior Court. All three surrendered their badges in October. Sheriff's officer Nicholas Ricciotti, 32, got two years probation.

All four took plea deals that required them to forfeit their badges and never hold public employment again to avoid prison.

A multi-month investigation conducted by the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Special Enforcement Unit's Narcotics Task Force began after receiving a Morris County Sheriff's CrimeStoppers Program tip about illegal drug activity involving use by a Morris County Sheriff's officer.

"After discovering this information through our Morris County Sheriff's CrimeStoppers program, I immediately forwarded it to the County Prosecutor for investigation," Sheriff James Gannon said.

The investigation identified four Morris County correction officers employed in the Bureau of Corrections who were engaged in an ongoing conspiracy to purchase cocaine for their own personal use, officials said.

Two of these correction officers were also engaged in an ongoing conspiracy to distribute cocaine to their fellow officers, police said.

Additionally, the investigation identified a Morris County Sheriff's Officer within the Bureau of Law Enforcement who was engaged in the ongoing conspiracy to purchase oxycodone prescription pills for his personal use, officials said.

Two of the officers were also charged with obstructing the administration of law or other governmental function for utilizing a county law enforcement database for an unauthorized purpose in connection to their drug conspiracy, police said.

“Acting Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll expressed his gratitude for the complete cooperation of Morris County Sheriff Gannon in this most sensitive and important investigation. Prosecutor Carroll and Sheriff Gannon both expressed their commitment to zero tolerance for misconduct involving law enforcement officers engaging in unlawful drug activities especially touching upon their performance of their duties," the duo said in a statement. "We concur with Judge Taylor in his assessment and sentencing and trust this case will serve as a deterrent by illustrating the significant career ending cost.”

Corrections officer Brian Rzucidlo, 35, will be sentenced on March 25. Andico, Wyman, Busold and Rzucidlo were all employed by the Morris County Sheriff's Office and assigned as correction officers at the Morris County Correctional Facility. Ricciotti, a former Morris County correction officer, was a Morris County Sheriff's officer assigned to the Bureau of Law Enforcement.

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