FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

WEDNESDAY - February 11, 2009

DRUG TRAFFICKER SENTENCED

RALEIGH - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court here today United States District Judge James C. Dever, III, sentenced PHILLIP SCOTT MORGAN, 44, of Creedmoor, North Carolina, to 168 months’ imprisonment followed by five years supervised release.

A Criminal Information was filed on September 4, 2008, charging possession with intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana. On October 20, 2008, MORGAN pled guilty to the charge.

On August 14, 2007, deputies with the Granville County Sheriff’s Office performed a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by MORGAN. A search of the vehicle revealed nine cardboard boxes containing 901 pounds of marijuana. Further investigation revealed that on August 8, 2007, MORGAN and another individual had driven down to Laredo, Texas, to pick up the marijuana and return to North Carolina to deliver it to a buyer.

Mr. Holding commented: This case is a reminder of just how close the southwest border is to North Carolina. Daily, drug traffickers are bringing illegal drugs from sources south of our border with Mexico and delivering it directly to North Carolina. We remain dedicated to working with federal, state and local investigators to disrupt and end this process. We want to put a great deal of distance between North Carolina and international drug trafficking organizations.”

Rodney G. Benson, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division stated, "This investigation revealed that this individual was receiving large quantities of marijuana from Texas then was transporting it back to North Carolina for sale. Marijuana is clearly a harmful substance and it destroys lives. Today’s sentencing is appropriate for the criminal acts that he committed. The joint efforts between DEA, the Granville County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office, made this case a success.”

Investigation of the case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Granville County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Ethan Ontjes served as prosecutor for the government.

News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.