Virginia Beach man pleads guilty to federal drug trafficking and firearms crimes

NORFOLK, Va. - A Virginia Beach man pled guilty today to 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.

According to court documents, on June 8, Taekwon Malik Morris, 27, was driving a vehicle with expired temporary tags in Virginia Beach when Virginia Beach Police (VBPD) officers pulled up behind him at an intersection. Morris got out of the vehicle and began to inspect his rear tires. As officers approached Morris and told him that he was being stopped, he fled.

After a brief chase, Morris was apprehended. Officers located a 9mm handgun equipped with a machine gun conversion device (MCD) on the driver-side floorboard in plain view. Officers also recovered three pills containing Oxycodone, 91 pills containing fentanyl, and $8,887 bound in rubber bands from Morris during his arrest.

Morris previously was convicted of grand larceny of a firearm. As a felon, Morris cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.

Morris is scheduled to be sentenced on March 13, 2025. He faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to life in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Paul Neudigate, Chief of Virginia Beach Police, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes accepted the plea.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda L. Cheney is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-99.