Felon Convicted of Firearm and Marijuana Possession in Fort Pierce, Florida
A federal jury in West Palm Beach has convicted Jose Antonio Morales, 33, of Fort Pierce, of being a felon unlawfully in possession of a firearm and possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute the controlled substance.
According to court records, law enforcement seized two pounds of high-grade marijuana and a loaded firearm from a safe in Morales’ bedroom while executing a search warrant at his residence in Fort Pierce in June 2018. Morales is a convicted felon and was prohibited, by law, to possess a firearm and/or ammunition.
The case, Case No. 18-Cr-14056, is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Porter and Marton Gyires. Morales faces a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison on each count of conviction.
U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan commended the investigative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office in this matter.
Morales is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robin L. Rosenberg on April 29, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
The ATF and St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office worked together to seize the evidence and arrest Morales. This conviction serves as a reminder of the dangers of firearm and drug possession and the consequences of breaking the law.
Morales’ conviction is a significant step in keeping our communities safe from the illegal firearms and narcotics trade.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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