From 'Hell's Kitchen' to Jail: Reality TV Chef Part of Major Heroin, Cocaine Bust

Mendham Township police came across a cache of drugs and money during a routine traffic stop last month and are now searching for two of the vehicle’s occupants, authorities announced Friday.

At 10:52 p.m. on Aug. 19, Sgt. Matthew Ambrosi stopped a vehicle on Ironia Road for failing to use a turn signal, police said. While speaking with the driver, Nancy Vanwoert, 46, of Wayne, Ambrosi – a drug recognition expert – suspected the woman was under the influence of narcotic, police said.

While speaking with the backseat passenger of the car, David Levey, 37, of Chester, Ambrosi suspected the man was under the influence of narcotic analgesics, police said. Also in the vehicle was Shane Hawkins, 26, of Stanhope.

Levey is the season six winner of Gordon Ramsay’s reality television show ”Hell’s Kitchen.”

Ambrosi then requested a consent search of the vehicle, which Vanwoert refused. She did, however, approve the search of two bags from inside the car, police said.

In those bags, police found a prescription bottle of Klonapin and Clonazepam, but no one in the car had a prescription for it, police said. Also in the bags was a mirror with an unknown white powder and multiple bundles of cash, totaling $4,070, police said. Police also found a ledger book containing details of what is believed to be drug transactions, buyers, and how much money had been paid or owed to Vanwoert, police said.

Vanwoert was arrested and charged with possession of the prescription pills and the white powder believed to be a controlled dangerous substance. Levey was also arrested for being under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance. Hawkins was transported to the Mendham Township Police Department due to the car being impounded, but was not placed under arrest.

The following day a search warrant for the vehicle was obtained by the police department which uncovered 75 folds of heroin, 36 folds with residue, 10 uncapped used hypodermic needles with heroin residue, 24 uncapped needles with heroin residue, nine white round pills labeled “54 142,” a schedule II controlled dangerous substance; four green round pills labeled “Mylan 477,” a schedule IV controlled dangerous substance; and other drug paraphernalia, police said.

Also discovered was a coffee mug with a false bottom which yielded 18 bags of a white powder suspected to be cocaine; two small bags containing a gray rock-like substance, suspected to be a controlled dangerous substance; three small bags and 14 clear capsules filled with a brown chunky substance, suspected to be a controlled dangerous substance; six round white pills labeled “155/activas logo,” a controlled dangerous substance; and four small round white pills, two labeled “2/arrow” and the other two labeled “8/arrow.”

All tolled $10,817 in cash was seized from the car between the first and second search, police said.

Arrest warrants have been issued for Vanwoert for $100,000 bail and Shane Hawkins on $75,000 bail. Both are still at large. Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to contact the Mendham Township Police Department at 973-543-2581.

Photos used in composite provided by Mendham Township Police Department.