Virginia Beach felon pleads guilty to federal drug trafficking and firearms crimes
Virginia Beach, Virginia – Taekwon Malik Morris, a 27-year-old resident of Virginia Beach, entered a guilty plea in federal court earlier this week to multiple serious charges, including possession of a machinegun, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
Arrest and Charges
According to the details provided by the court, the incident leading to Morris’s arrest occurred on June 8, when Virginia Beach Police Department officers noticed Morris driving a vehicle with expired temporary tags. Upon attempting to inspect his vehicle at an intersection, Morris fled on foot but was quickly apprehended after a brief chase.
During the arrest, officers discovered a 9mm handgun equipped with a machine gun conversion device on the driver-side floorboard. The search also yielded three pills containing Oxycodone and 91 pills containing fentanyl, alongside $8,887 in cash bundled with rubber bands, all found on Morris.
Legal Consequences and Previous Convictions
Having been previously convicted of grand larceny of a firearm, Morris is prohibited by law from possessing firearms or ammunition. The guilty plea brings him under the scrutiny of stringent laws pertaining to repeat offenders and firearm possession.
Morris is set to receive his sentence on March 13, 2025, where he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years, which could extend up to life in prison, depending on the assessment of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Impact of the Arrest
This case highlights the effective collaboration between the Virginia Beach Police and federal agencies in tackling gun violence and drug trafficking. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, along with ATF and local police representatives, emphasized the significance of the arrest in maintaining public safety and addressing the intertwined issues of illegal firearms and drug distribution.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda L. Cheney, who is prosecuting the case, remarked on the importance of stringent enforcement in cases involving felons with firearms, especially when linked to drug crimes, underlining the community’s broader efforts to combat the flow of illegal drugs and weapons.
