United States Attorney
Northern District of Texas

1100 Commerce St., 3rd Fl.
Dallas, Texas 75242-1699

Telephone (214) 659-8600
Fax (214) 767-0978

Jury Convicts Wichita Falls, Texas, Man on
Drug Conspiracy and Firearms Charges

Defendant Faces Mandatory Life Imprisonment

United States Attorney Richard B. Roper announced that Wichita Falls, Texas, resident Maurice Johnson, Jr., a/k/a “Crackcorn,” was convicted on all six counts of a federal indictment charging him with various drug and firearms offenses. The three-day jury trial was held last week before the Honorable Jerry Buchmeyer, United States Senior District Judge. Johnson, age 38, faces mandatory life imprisonment because he has at least two prior felony drug convictions in addition to his conviction fo the instant drug conspiracy. A sentencing date has not yet been set

In 2005, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Wichita Falls Police Department launched an investigation into cocaine base, or “crack” cocaine, trafficking in Wichita Falls, Texas. That investigation targeted large-scale street dealers, many of whom were known to carry or possess firearms while plying their illicit trade. Maurice Johnson, Jr., a violent recidivist known on the streets as “Crackcorn,” was one of the armed crack dealers targeted in this investigation.

The government presented evidence at trial that in the early months of 2006, state and federal law enforcement officers, using a confidential informant (CI), purchased large quantities of crack cocaine from Johnson at his home, then located on Smith Street in Wichita Falls. On January 31, 2006, Johnson sold the police more than 22 grams of crack cocaine from his home, and on February 9, 2006, he sold them more than 49 grams.

In March 2006, while law enforcement attempted to execute a state search warrant at his residence, Johnson fled, driving away in an attempt to escape from law enforcement. The police attempted to stop him for speeding and a high-speed chase ensued, with Johnson drivingerratically and endangering the safety of other motorists in the process. He then abruptly stopped his vehicle and attempted to flee on foot, but was prevented by police from escaping and then arrested for the high-speed flight. Johnson had $3,382 cash in his possession, with the denomination of the bills suggesting this money was the proceeds of illegal drug sales. In fact, one of the bills was used by the police to purchase crack cocaine from the Johnson at his Smith Street residence.

When law enforcement did execute the search warrant at his residence, they found numerous rounds of firearm ammunition and drug distribution paraphernalia, to include numerous plastic baggies and two sets of digital scales, inside the residence. The scales later tested positive for the presence of cocaine, indicating that they were being used to weigh the drug for distribution to others.

Law enforcement also discovered a loaded Taurus 9 millimeter pistol with extra loaded magazines in a vehicle parked next to his house. The police also found a box of .357 magnum ammunition and papers and documents bearing Johnson’s name next to this pistol. The police removed a key ring from Johnson’s pants pocket and discovered that one of the keys unlocked this automobile. Johnson admitted he owned the pistol.

In May 2006, law enforcement arrested Johnson outside his new home located on Central Freeway in Wichita Falls. The police found Johnson standing next to an opened barbeque grill and they observed, in plain view, a bag of crack cocaine, which was cut up in “rocks” for street-level sales, inside the grill. The police searched his residence and found a smaller quantity of crack cocaine, two sets of drugs scales, $2,860.00 in United States currency, which was the proceeds of street-level drug sales, and two firearms, one of which was a Colt 9 millimeter pistol, discovered under the mattress of the his bed. Johnson told law enforcement that he regularly acquired crack cocaine to sell from a named source of supply and that in the past year he had acquired 2-4 ounces of the drug from this source on 10 separate occasions, indicating that he had obtained and sold 20-40 ounces of crack cocaine in the past year. He also admitted that he possessed the 9 millimeter pistol found under his mattress and claimed that he obtained it “on the streets.”

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative work of ATF and the Wichita Falls, Texas, Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gary Tromblay.

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