Morgan Lyons, Cocaine Distribution, Louisiana 2022

Grimy Times Exclusive: Guilty Verdict Handed Down in Lafayette

A federal jury in Lafayette, Louisiana, has returned a guilty verdict against Morgan Lyons, 42, of Jennings, Louisiana, on firearms and drug possession charges.

The charges against Lyons include one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and two counts of felon in possession of a firearm. Lyons was found guilty last night, following a trial that began on Monday, February 7, 2022.

According to testimony, on May 5, 2016, law enforcement officers with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office Combined Anti-Drug Task Force, the Louisiana State Police, and the Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted a controlled delivery of marijuana to a residence in which Lyons resided. Shortly after the controlled delivery, officers executed a search warrant of the residence and located approximately 43 ounces of cocaine, a ledger book, 4 digital scales, $36,020, an AR-15 assault rifle, a Ruger 9mm firearm, and a large box of assorted ammunition, as well as numerous documents in the name of Morgan Lyons.

Lyons has a prior felony conviction for possession of cocaine and a prior conviction for possession of over 400 grams of cocaine, as well as multiple violent felony arrests. For these federal convictions, he faces a sentence of not less than 5 years nor more than 40 years in prison on the drug possession charge, up to 10 years in prison on each firearms charge, not less than 5 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5,000,000. In addition, Lyons will forfeit the $36,020 which was seized.

Sentencing has been scheduled for June 23, 2022. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Louisiana State Police and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Luke Walker and Craig R. Bordelon.

Lyons’ guilty verdict marks a significant victory in the ongoing fight against crime in Louisiana. The Grimy Times will continue to provide updates on this case as more information becomes available.

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