PORTSMOUTH, Va. — A former Portsmouth assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney resigned from his job, just four days before being indicted on federal drug distribution charges, according to the Portsmouth Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney.
Court documents reveal that Matthew Taylor Morris, 38, was indicted on Sept. 10. A Portsmouth Commonwealth's Attorney spokesperson said Morris resigned on Friday, Sept. 6.
According to the indictment, during the period between 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 allegedly met with marijuana wholesalers, loaded the drug onto trucks, and stored them in stash houses he set up all throughout Hampton Roads as well as in Morris’ law office.
Court documents also claim Morris and his co-conspirators used encrypted messaging apps on their cell phones in an attempt to evade law enforcement and hide evidence of their alleged crimes.
Morris is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and criminal forfeiture. He is scheduled to have a plea hearing on Sept. 24.