Monongalia County man indicted on cocaine and firearms charges

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Derrick Morris, of Morgantown, West Virginia, appeared today in federal court on drug and firearms charges after being indicted by a federal grand jury sitting in Clarksburg on July 9, 2019 , United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Morris, age 32, is charged with one count of “Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base,” one count of “Use of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Offense,” and one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Morris is accused of distributing “crack” cocaine in Monongalia County in November 2018. Morris, who is prohibited from having a firearm because of a previous conviction, is also accused of having a .22 caliber rifle and a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol during the alleged drug offense.

Morris faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for the drug offense, at least five years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for firearm during a dug crime, and up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the unlawful possession crime. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda E. Wesley is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mon Metro Drug & Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. 

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.

An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.