×

Man pleads guilty to conspiracy to distribute bags of heroin

A Philadelphia man has entered a guilty plea in U.S. Middle District Court of a charge of conspiracy to distribute more than 5,000 bags of heroin in Lycoming County.

Stacy Donte Morgan, 26, was indicted in March on the conspiracy charge and entered a plea of guilty Wednesday, changing his earlier plea of not guilty, according to court documents.

Another man, Samuel Darius Woodlyn, 27, also of Philadelphia, and a woman, Hadiyah Shadiah Bell-Evans, 20, of Williamsport, previously pleaded not guilty on April 6 to the charges of conspiracy and distribution of heroin and have not changed those pleas.

A federal grand jury alleged Morgan was involved in the conspiracy to distribute 5,588 bags of heroin following arrests by state police on Jan. 1.

The indictment futher alleges the trio used a rental vehicle and a motel room to store, transport and distribute heroin and $7,780.

Police were assisted by the FBI and agents with the Lycoming County District Attorney’s Office.

Woodlyn’s attorney, Ronald C. Travis, said in his argument before a trial that his client was not in the car when it was stopped on Jan. 1.

Bundles of heroin were hidden in the car console found by police who obtained a search warrant executed that same week.

Bell-Evans is represented by attorney Edward J. Rymsza.

Morgan, represented by D. Toni Byrd, of the federal public defender’s office, faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison. The maximum penalty under law for these alleged offenses is 40 years and a $5 million fine, according to U.S. Attorney Peter J. Smith.

Assistant U.S. Attorney George J. Rocktashel has been assigned to the case, Smith said.

The case has been handled thus far by U.S. Middle District Judge Malachy E. Mannion.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today