Rochester Man Pleads Guilty in Fentanyl, Crack Cocaine Ring

Terrence Morgan, 24, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to a federal drug conspiracy that flooded city streets with fentanyl, crack cocaine, and heroin. The arrest marks a key blow to a violent narcotics ring that operated from multiple drug houses across the city, fueling addiction and crime between April and August 2018.

Morgan, known as “Young,” admitted to processing and repackaging bulk narcotics under the direction of ringleaders Michael Wyatt and Andre Cunningham. At stash houses located at 218 Emerson Street and 131 Saratoga Avenue, Morgan broke down kilogram-level shipments into street-level doses for distribution. He also directly sold drugs to users while funneling proceeds back to Wyatt and Cunningham, who ran the operation like a criminal enterprise.

The conspiracy imported deadly quantities of fentanyl—40 grams or more—alongside 28 grams or more of crack cocaine, plus heroin and powder cocaine. The charge carries a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $5,000,000 fine. Prosecutors say the supply chain reached as high as Ulises Vargas and Clifford Billins, who allegedly sourced narcotics from external networks.

Between July and August 7, 2018, Morgan was found in possession of a firearm tied directly to the drug operation—a charge that could trigger additional penalties. Federal authorities stress that weapons in drug rings escalate violence and endanger entire neighborhoods. Morgan’s access to a firearm during the conspiracy underscores the operation’s brazen nature.

Wyatt, Cunningham, and Vargas have already been convicted and await sentencing. Billins remains at large, with federal charges pending. Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. McGrath, built the case with relentless investigative work. The defendant’s plea was entered before Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, and the Rochester Police Department. Sentencing for Terrence Morgan is scheduled for August 5, 2019, at 3:30 p.m. in federal court. The case is a stark reminder: one drug ring can poison a city, but federal and local agencies are closing in.

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