SCRANTON — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle), published as received.

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Morris Smith, age 35, of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment on March 21, 2018, by United States District Court Judge Matthew W. Brann for possession with intent to distribute cocaine. 

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Smith pled guilty to possessing more than 28 grams of cocaine base, or “crack,” along with a quantity of cocaine with the intent to distribute the narcotics in the Williamsport area.  Smith was arrested in March 2016 in Williamsport following a vehicle and foot pursuit that began when Smith fled a routine traffic stop.  Williamsport police recovered over 150 grams of powder cocaine and 74 grams of crack, along with a loaded 9mm handgun, from the trunk of the car Smith drove while attempting to elude police.  Those quantities amount to more than 400 individual doses of crack and 900 doses of powder cocaine. 

Judge Brann considered Smith’s lengthy criminal history when imposing the sentence, specifically noting two prior federal convictions for drug trafficking and escape. 

The investigation was conducted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Williamsport Bureau of Police.  Assistant United States Attorney Sean A. Camoni prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority.   In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

 

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