Pennsylvania Man Pleads Guilty to Panamanian Drug Trafficking Conspiracy, Money Laundering

WILMINGTON, Del. – Charles M. Oberly, III, United States Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced today that Kevin Morris, age 23 of Franklin Township, Pennsylvania (Chester County), pleaded guilty to conspiracy to smuggle five kilograms of cocaine and one kilogram of heroin from the Republic of Panama into the United States, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841 and 846; and money laundering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1957. The charges carry a maximum term of life imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum term of ten years imprisonment. Sentencing has been scheduled for December 6, 2012.

During the change of plea hearing, Morris admitted that he acted as a recruiter, facilitator, and financier for the organization, and that he was involved on multiple occasions in which couriers smuggled or attempted to smuggle heroin and cocaine from Panama to Delaware. He acknowledged making cocaine and heroin sales to customers based primarily in Pennsylvania, including to confidential informant(s) under the control of the Pennsylvania State Police. Morris further admitted his involvement in purchasing approximately one-half kilogram of cocaine in Washington, D.C., which had been smuggled into the United States through a military contractor based in Afghanistan.

In connection with his plea agreement Morris accepted responsibility for at least 5 kilograms of cocaine and 5 kilograms of heroin. He also admitted that he laundered his drug proceeds in part by purchasing two vehicles.

Morris is the thirteenth individual charged in connection with the Wilmington-based Panama drug conspiracy to enter a guilty plea. Nine defendants have entered guilty pleas in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, while four other defendants have entered guilty pleas in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas.

The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations Division, the Wilmington Police Department, and the Pennsylvania State Police.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert F. Kravetz. For further information, contact Press Information Officer Kimberlynn Reeves at (302) 573-6277, ext. 16287.

Related Cases: See May 29, 2012 and December 19, 2011 Press Release at www.justice.gov/usao/de/press