Columbus Man Sentenced To 44 Years In Prison For Drug Trafficking And Gun Crimes

COLUMBUS – Jack A. Morris, 38, of Columbus was sentenced to 44 years in prison for operating a drug trafficking organization and using violence to protect his drug trade.

Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Michael Boxler, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Columbus Field Division (ATF), and Gahanna Police Chief Dennis Murphy announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Gregory L. Frost.

A jury convicted Morris in August of one count of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, two gun counts, and nine counts of illegally trafficking marijuana and oxycodone.

Trial testimony showed that Morris and others supplied street level distributors of marijuana, cocaine and oxycodone with firearms and body armor as a way of protecting themselves from potential robberies. Morris also placed firearms in strategic locations throughout his house in order to intimidate potential robbers and protect the narcotics and proceeds kept at the house.

Two others indicted with Morris in April 2013, Jeremy S. Baker, 25, of Blacklick, and Judy L. Kindle, 45, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute oxycodone. Baker was sentenced to 36 months in prison. Kindle was sentenced to 30 months in prison. Christopher Wilcox, 30, of Reynoldsburg, pleaded guilty to supplying firearms including an AK-47 and an AR-15, knowing that the weapons were to be used in the drug trafficking. Wilcox was sentenced to 48 months in prison.

Morris has been in custody since his arrest in May 2013.

U.S. Attorney Stewart commended the investigation conducted by ATF and the Gahanna Police officers, and Assistant U.S. Attorney David DeVillers and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen C. Dunbar with Columbus City Attorney Rick Pfeiffer’s Office, who prosecuted the case.