Bogalusa Man Indicted on Federal Firearms and Drug Trafficking Charges
NEW ORLEANS – Romero Morris, 34, a resident of Bogalusa, Louisiana, was charged on Aug. 18 in an 11-count indictment with several violations of the Federal Gun Control and Federal Controlled Substances Acts, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
According to the indictment, Morris distributed and possessed with the intent to distribute, different drugs on Dec. 19, 2018, Jan. 17, 2019, April 1, 2019, March 25, 2022, Jan. 26, 2023, Feb. 8, 2023, and Feb. 14, 2023. He also illegally possessed firearms as a convicted felon, in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes, on several of these dates.
In counts 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8 of the indictment, he is charged with the distribution of different drugs, including cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine. As to each of these counts, he will face a sentence of not more than 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million and not less than three years of supervised release.
In counts 4 and 9, he is charged with possession with the intent to distribute over 40 grams of fentanyl and quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine. For the fentanyl, he will face a minimum sentence of 5 years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of not more than $5,000 and at least 4 years of supervised release. For the cocaine and methamphetamine, he will face a sentence of not more than 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million and not less than three years of supervised release.
For counts 5 and 10, he is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, for which he faces a sentence of not more than 10 years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000 and not more than three years of supervised release.
For counts 6 and 11, he is charged with possession a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and faces a sentence of not less than 5 years and not more than life in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000 and not more than five years of supervised release. Furthermore, any sentence of imprisonment imposed must be served consecutively to any other sentence he will be serving.
Finally, as to each of the charged counts, Morris faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Louisiana State Police, the State of Louisiana Department of Probation and Parole and the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurice E. Landrieu Jr. of the Narcotics Unit.
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