UPDATED: Bud Bus owner faces new charges

William Schlette, owner of the Bud Bus Co., faces new charges after police and prosecutors executed search warrants in four locations Wednesday, July 10.

Schlette, 47, of West Nyack, N.Y., was charged with first-degree possession of more than 25 pounds of marijuana with intent to distribute, first-degree money laundering and second-degree racketeering. He also was charged with possession of more than 6 ounces of marijuana and five counts of conspiracy, both fourth-degree crimes, as well as deceptive business practices.

Jennifer Schlette, 42, also of West Nyack, was charged with first-degree money laundering.

Both were taken to a county correctional facility pending a court appearance, West Milford police said.

During searches in Hewitt, Manahawkin and Keyport and in West Nyack, law enforcement officials seized $200,000; several vehicles, including a 2020 Ram ProMaster Van, 2020 Chevrolet Silverado, 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser, 2017 Porsche Macan and 2020 Chevrolet Corvette; three Polaris ATVs; a 2024 Look Enclosed Trailer; and a Sea Box modular building, police said.

Schlette, a former West Milford resident, in May was charged with marijuana possession and money laundering after Bud Bus vehicles in Warren County were searched and the prosecutor’s office there seized $1,000 and suspected raw marijuana.

In May, West Milford police searched five Bud Bus locations and seized about $11,000, 150 pounds of marijuana and four trailers. A warrant for Schlette’s arrest was issued then and the police launched an investigation.

Bud Bus, which provided a free bag of cannabis to customers who purchased an item from one of its purple vans, has been shut down since early May. The vans regularly were parked at various West Milford locations.

The West Milford Police Department Detective Bureau was assisted in the searches by the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office, New York State Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, Rockland County (N.Y.) District Attorney’s Office, Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Ocean County Regional SWAT Team and Stafford Township Police Department.