Defendant Sentenced In Manhattan Federal Court To 30 Years In Prison For Shooting At Police Officer And Murdering A 19-Year-Old Victim

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that DARREN MORRIS was sentenced yesterday in Manhattan federal court to 30 years in prison on firearms charges relating to a July 2009 Bronx murder and a November 2009 attempted shooting of a New York City Police Department (“NYPD”) police officer.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said:  “As part of a Bronx robbery crew, Darren Morris lived a life of violence, including participating in a July 2009 murder and a November 2009 attempted shooting of a police officer.  With his conviction and sentence, Morris will no longer pose a threat to the safety of the Bronx community he once terrorized.”

MORRIS was originally charged in September 2011 with robbery and firearms offenses, in connection with his involvement in an attempted home invasion robbery and subsequent police shooting occurring on or about November 2009.  During the robbery, MORRIS struck one of the victims in the head with a gun, causing the gun to discharge one round.  While fleeing the scene of the robbery, MORRIS also fired several shots at a police officer who pursued him.  Two other defendants, Michael Campbell and Alphonso Campbell, were also charged in connection with the attempted robbery.

In January 2013, the United States Attorney’s Office obtained a 24-count Superseding Indictment charging nine defendants, including MORRIS and Michael Campbell, in a wide-ranging robbery conspiracy, and numerous robbery, attempted robbery, carjacking, and firearm charges.  As part of that Superseding Indictment, Michael Campbell and Patrick Lewis were charged in the December 26, 2010, murder of victim Patrick Woodburn, 20, of the Bronx, in the area of 3527 Mickle Avenue in the Bronx.  The Superseding Indictment alleged that MORRIS, Lewis, Michael Campbell, and other members of their Bronx robbery crew committed a number of armed robberies of drug traffickers and commercial businesses between approximately 2009 and 2012.

Further investigation revealed that MORRIS and Michael Campbell participated in the shooting and murder of victim Jordan Jones, 19, of the Bronx, on or about July 5, 2009, in the area of Monticello Avenue and Nereid Avenue in the Bronx.  On March 18, 2014, the United States Attorney’s Office obtained another Superseding Indictment, adding murder charges against MORRIS relating to the killing of Jones.

On February 11, 2014, Michael Campbell pled guilty to participating in the murders of both Woodburn and Jones.  On July 1, 2014, the Honorable John F. Keenan sentenced Michael Campbell to 30 years in prison.  On February 18, 2014, Lewis pled guilty to participating in the murder of Woodburn, and to his involvement in the charged robbery conspiracy.  On September 17, 2014, Judge Keenan sentenced Lewis to 25 years in prison.  A number of the other charged members of the robbery crew also pled guilty, and received lengthy sentences (a full table follows).

On September 23, 2014, MORRIS pled guilty to two firearm counts, and admitted during his plea allocution to discharging his firearm during his flight from an attempted home invasion robbery in November 2009, and to shooting and killing Jones in July 2009 in connection with an ongoing dispute with a rival criminal group.  On December 16, 2015, Judge Keenan sentenced MORRIS to 30 years in prison in relation to those offenses.

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A chart containing the names, charges of conviction, sentencing dates, and sentences imposed on each defendant is attached.

Mr. Bharara praised the investigative work of the NYPD and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crimes Unit.  Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher J. DiMase and Jessica Masella are in charge of the prosecution.

U.S. v. Darren Morris, et al.