“Operation Redirect”

           On October 6th, 2007 some 400 officers gathered at 5:30 a.m. to arrest about 100 people in 21 municipalities in Morris County, and towns in Sussex, Essex and Warren counties pursuant to a seven month investigation known as “Operation Redirect.”
           At the end of the day a major cocaine and drug trafficking network allegedly headed by a former Morristown resident, who was a high school football star in the 1970s, was dismantled. During the seven month investigation five kilos of cocaine valued at $500,000 was sold around Morris County.
           Former Morristown resident Ovie N. "Tony" Lattimore, 50, was arrested at his home in Kissimmee, Fla., and charged with being a leader of a drug trafficking network. Lattimore made frequent trips back to Morris County, allegedly to oversee drug distribution activities and collect payments. His bail was set at $350,000. Ovie Lattimore was a star of Morristown's football team, including a championship year in 1975. He currently was a volunteer football coach for a Pop Warner youth football team in Pointe Sienna, Fla.
           Morristown resident George R. Washington, 43, was arrested and charged with being a leader of a drug trafficking network and is being held on $350,000 bail. Washington allegedly reported to Lattimore.
           During the investigation authorities identified and linked with Washington/Lattimore a second distribution network, run in the Roxbury area, headed by two Montville grandparents -- George Delvecchio, 70, and his wife, Jean Delvecchio, 69. The husband was charged with conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine and marijuana and bail was set at $200,000. The wife was charged with conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine and bail was set at $25,000.
           The drug dealing was not done in the typical, open-air, street level style. Movement of drugs and sales more often occurred in vehicles. As a result of Saturday's raids, authorities seized 35 vehicles, a shotgun and some handguns. $500,000 worth of cocaine and $40,000 worth of the painkiller Oxycodone was sold during the investigation.
           The New Jersey Narcotic Enforcement Officers Association Commends the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, along with those officers from the other police agencies who participated in “Operation Redirect” on their diligent efforts in narcotic enforcement.