PORTSMOUTH, Va. — A former Portsmouth assistant Commonwealth's Attorney pleaded guilty Tuesday to two federal drug distribution charges.
38-year-old Matthew Taylor Morris was indicted earlier this month. He resigned just four days before the indictment.
According to the indictment, from March 2021 and May 2022, Morris – with help from Nicholas Capehart, Donald Rogers, Jeffery Sines, and others – conspired and aided and abetted in the possession, distribution, and sale of marijuana throughout the Hampton Roads and the Eastern District of Virginia.
Rogers was the owner of a pawn shop that was authorized to sell firearms, and federal prosecutors said in 2021 he became involved in the interstate trafficking of bulk quantities of marijuana with the help of Capehart and Sines. Prosecutors said they stored approximately 1,000 pounds of marijuana and cash proceeds at Morris’ Top Tier Law firm located on South Independence Boulevard in Virginia Beach.
Court documents state Morris would refer customers, including his own legal clients, to Rogers to illegally buy THC products.
In exchange for using the law office to store marijuana, Rogers allegedly paid its monthly rent for several months, with Morris giving Rogers a key to access the office. Rogers also allegedly supplied Morris with 15 pounds of THC products per month to sell to his own retail customers. Morris also allegedly received a handgun illegally from Rogers.
Morris and Sines on Tuesday both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Morris is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 22, 2025, and faces up to 10 years in prison while Sines is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 7, 2025, and faces up to 20 years in prison for each count.
Rogers is expected to plead guilty on Sept. 30, as is Capehart on Oct. 3.
Court documents show Morris is currently free on bond while awaiting sentencing.