Mississippi man sentenced after helping to distribute drugs, officials say

MOBILE, Ala. ( WKRG ) — A Mississippi man faces prison time after he was sentenced for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, according to the United States Department of Justice.

Court documents said that United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer sentenced 39-year-old Morris Alan Morgan to prison on June 18 after he pled guilty to charges of smuggling cocaine shipments to Darrin J. Southhall, a man officials say is a “notorious and prolific drug distributor who operated in Mobile, Alabama since 2016.”

Southhall, who previously pled guilty to operating a continuing criminal enterprise, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and conspiracy to launder drug money, reportedly hired Morgan to transport drug money and drugs concealed in compartments in various vehicles back and forth from Mobile to Houston, Texas.

“Morgan admitted responsibility for smuggling 30 kilograms of cocaine in shipments for Southall during early 2021,” documents said.

According to officials, Morgan now faces 60 months in prison, a five-year term of supervised release, and $100 in special mandatory assessments.

He also will be subject to testing and treatment for substance abuse, and searching of his person and premises.

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