Man Charged In Morris County Overdose Death

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — A Morris County man has been charged in connection with the overdose death of a 28-year-old man, the Morris County Prosecutor's Office said.

Anthony Q. Dello-Russo, 26, of Cedar Knolls, was charged on Tuesday with strict liability for drug-induced death in the Feb. 16, 2023, death of a 28-year-old, later identified as T.H., in Whippany, Prosecutor Robert Carroll said.

This statute provides that any person who manufactures, distributes or dispenses any number of controlled dangerous substances is strictly liable for a death that results from the injection, inhalation, or ingestion of that substance.

This is a first-degree crime, which is punishable by up to 20 years in New Jersey State Prison and is subject to the 85 percent parole ineligibility requirements of the No Early Release Act.

Dello-Russo was charged after the investigation into the Feb. 16 death at a residence in Whippany, where police found an unconscious male later identified as T.H., Carroll said.

The Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled that, based on the toxicology analysis, T.H.’s death was a combined toxicity of cocaine, fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl.

In connection with this investigation, Dello-Russo has also been charged with two counts of third-degree distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance.

Dello-Russo was previously charged on Dec. 8 with second-degree possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute; third-degree possession of cocaine; second-degree possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute; third-degree possession of marijuana; and third-degree money laundering.

The charges stem from the seizure of more than a half-ounce of suspected cocaine, five pounds of marijuana, and more than $51,000 in cash from Dello-Russo's home.

Under the Criminal Justice Reform Act, Dello-Russo has been detained in the Morris County Correctional Facility pending future court proceedings.

“Drug dealers should be on notice that we will not hesitate to charge them with the first-degree Strict Liability Drug-Induced Death statute when the facts support the connection between the dealer and the death of their user/victim,” Carroll said.