An admitted cocaine dealer caught near a St. Thomas high school with drugs and a firearm was sent to prison for six years by a federal judge.
N’kel Morton, 23, was sentenced Thursday to 72 months for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. District Court Judge Curtis Gomez also ordered Morton to serve three years of supervised release and 400 hours of community service.
When he was arrested on Sept. 26, the defendant had a Glock Model 36 pistol and an undisclosed quantity of cocaine in his possession. At that time he was charged with distribution within 1,000 feet of a school, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and unauthorized possession of a firearm.
Morton pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense in March.
According to the plea agreement filed in court, Morton admitted to
distributing approximately one ounce of cocaine to an undercover agent in exchange for a Glock pistol in November.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The defendant was remanded to the custody of U.S. marshals at the end of the sentencing hearing.