Pennsylvania Man Sentenced To 57 Months Imprisonment In Drug Conspiracy Case

WILMINGTON, Del. – Charles M. Oberly, III, United States Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced today that Kevin Morris, age 24 of Franklin Township, Pennsylvania (Chester County), was sentenced to 57 months imprisonment for his role in a drug conspiracy centered in Wilmington that involved the importation of cocaine and heroin from Panama and Afghanistan.  United States District Judge Richard G. Andrews further imposed a three year term of supervised release and ordered Morris to forfeit the sum of $22,172.00 in drug proceeds.

Morris pleaded guilty on July 25, 2012, 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.  According to facts introduced during the 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 informants 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 five (5) kilograms of cocaine and five (5) kilograms of heroin.  He also admitted that he laundered his drug proceeds in part by purchasing two vehicles. 

To date, the government has charged twenty-three individuals in the United States with drug trafficking offenses as a result of the investigation.  All but four of those defendants – each of whom remain abroad in Panama – have pleaded guilty, or have agreed to plead guilty, to drug-related offenses.  A listing of the charged defendants and their current status is set forth in Attachment A.

United States Attorney Charles M. Oberly, III, stated, “The Court’s sentence appropriately punishes the defendant for his important role in an international drug conspiracy that had a negative impact on Wilmington and its surrounding communities.  I applaud the exceptional efforts of our law enforcement partners in dismantling the organization of which Mr. Morris played a significant role.”

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

Investigators also received invaluable assistance from the Panamanian National Police; the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas; the United States Marshals Service for the District of Delaware; the Newark (Delaware) Police Department; the Delaware State Police; the New Castle County Police Department; the Delaware Department of Corrections, Probation and Parole; the Cecil County (Maryland) Drug Task Force; the Pennsylvania State Police; the Maryland State Police; and the Elkton (Maryland) Police Department.

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.

ATTACHMENT A
Status of Defendants Charged in Panama/Afghanistan Drug Investigation
        Defendant                    District           Case No.                                            Status

Ronaldo Edmund	Delaware	11-63-RGA	Sentenced on September 9, 2013, to 180 months imprisonment
Tissany Buckham	Delaware	11-63-RGA	Sentenced on April 10, 2013, to 22 months imprisonment
Kimberly Fowler	Delaware	11-63-RGA	Completed pretrial diversion on November 6, 2012
Kelvin Cook	Delaware	11-63-RGA	Sentenced on June 20, 2013, to 180 months imprisonment
Julio Archer	Delaware	11-63-RGA	Sentenced on June 11, 2013, to 60 months imprisonment
Roumik Banerjee	Delaware	11-63-RGA	Sentenced on April 3, 2013, to 57 months imprisonment
Mia Poteat	Delaware	11-63-RGA	Sentenced on April 3, 2013, to 37 months imprisonment
Tina Simmons	Delaware	11-63-RGA	Sentenced on May 7, 2013, to three years’ probation and six months home detention
Tessa Snyder	Delaware	11-63-RGA	Pleaded guilty on May 18, 2012; pending sentencing
Dynisha Revel	Delaware	11-63-RGA	Charged defendant, currently incarcerated in Panama
Raabia Munir	Delaware	11-63-RGA	Pleaded guilty on October 16, 2013, pending sentencing
Sharon Butera	Delaware	11-63-RGA	Charged defendant, currently incarcerated in Panama
Efrain Dixon	Delaware	11-63-RGA	Charged defendant, Panamanian national
Benjamin Carpenter	Delaware	11-63-RGA	Charged defendant, Panamanian national
Tara Resto	Delaware	09-102-GMS	Pleaded guilty on April 13, 2010; sentencing hearing to be determined
Kevin Morris	Delaware	12-41-RGA	Sentenced on October 22, 2013 to 57 months imprisonment
Saleem A. Sharif	Delaware	12-53-RGA	Sentenced on September 4, 2013, to 120 months imprisonment
Charles Richardson	Delaware	12-44-RGA	Sentenced on January 29, 2013, to 60 months imprisonment
Darrold Thomas	Delaware	12-65-RGA	Sentenced on August 27, 2013, to 54 months imprisonment
Sayeed A. Behrooz	Delaware	13-93-RGA	Pleaded guilty on October 15, 2013; pending sentencing on February 26, 2014
Neisha Miller	Southern Dist. of TX	5: 11-43-01	Sentenced on September 20, 2011 to 36 months imprisonment
Gloria Miller	Southern Dist. of TX	5: 11-43-02	Sentenced on September 20, 2011 to 36 months imprisonment
Christine A. Blevins	Southern Dist. of TX	5: 09-388-01	Sentenced on March 4, 2010, to 60 months imprisonment
Bridgette Davidson	Southern Dist. of TX	5: 09-388-02	Sentenced on March 12, 2010, to 60 months imprisonment