Virginia Beach, Va. – A local lawyer has pleaded guilty to storing large quantities of marijuana and involving his law office in a wide-reaching drug distribution operation, authorities announced. Matthew Taylor Morris, aged 38, entered his guilty plea amid allegations that his firm, Top Tier Law Group, was used to house roughly 1,000 pounds of marijuana.
Following his plea, Morris was temporarily suspended from practicing law as of October 1. The suspension came shortly after a show-cause order was issued on September 27, requiring Morris to explain why his legal license should not face further sanctions or permanent revocation.
Investigations revealed that Morris’s office was not only storing significant amounts of marijuana but also the substantial cash proceeds from the illicit sales. Prosecutors estimate the street value of the seized marijuana to be between $800,000 and $1.6 million. In an unsettling display of the scheme’s profits, one photograph captured at Morris’s office shows a conspirator posing with over $100,000, all with Morris’s legal diplomas hanging in the backdrop.
Aside from allowing his office to be used for these activities, Morris reportedly accepted part of his office rent from a co-conspirator over several months beginning late in 2021. Furthermore, Morris was compensated with 70 pounds of THC products, delivered at a rate of 15 pounds per month, which he then purportedly sold to his clients.
The depths of Morris’s involvement extended to allegedly accepting a handgun from a co-conspirator. This transaction was notably complicated by Morris’s illegal use of controlled substances including Adderall, cocaine, opiates, and THC, adding a dangerous layer to his criminal activities.
Prior to this indictment, Morris served as a prosecutor in Portsmouth, Virginia. His resignation from the Commonwealth Attorney’s office came just days before his indictment on September 6. His term at the prosecutor’s office began three months after the alleged drug conspiracy ended in May 2022. Morris has been charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
While Morris is preparing for his sentencing scheduled for January 22, 2025, the legal community and local authorities are left reeling at the breach of trust and the scale of his criminal involvement. Represented by attorney James O. Broccoletti, Morris has not made further comments regarding his case.
This incident underscores a chilling misuse of the legal profession, turning a space dedicated to law and justice into a hub of drug trafficking. This case not only jeopardizes Morris’s career but also casts a shadow on the ethical standards expected of lawyers. As the judicial system deals with one of its own, the local community and Morris’s clientele are left to deal with the ramifications of his betrayals.