Laplace Woman Pleads Guilty to Violations of The Federal Controlled Substances Act and Interstate

Published 3:48 pm Friday, December 17, 2021

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NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that TRACY MORGAN, age 51, a resident of LaPlace, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on December 16, 2021 to a Two Count Superseding Bill of Information. In Count One, MORGAN pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine hydrochloride. In Count Two, MORGAN pled guilty to interstate and foreign travel or transportation in aid of racketeering.

According to court documents, in August 2019, on behalf of co-conspirator Ellis Batiste, Sr., MORGAN transported money from Louisiana to Texas to pay for 10 kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride, which she then transported to Louisiana where she was subsequently stopped and arrested by law enforcement.

The Honorable District Court Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon will sentence MORGAN on March 17, 2022. In Count One, MORGAN faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum of forty years imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000,000.00, a period of supervised release of at least four years, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. For Count Two, MORGAN faces a maximum sentence of up to four years imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000.00, a period of supervised release up to five years, and a mandatory special  assessment fee of $100.00.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Bayonle Osundare is prosecuting the matter.