A 39-year-old Houston man has been sentenced to 22 years in federal prison after a jury convicted him of selling firearms and kilogram quantities of crystal methamphetamine to an undercover agent, federal prosecutors said.
Jorge Morales was sentenced to 264 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, by U.S. District Judge Bennett.
A federal jury convicted Morales on Jan. 16 after a four-day trial on charges including conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
During the trial, jurors heard evidence that Morales sold firearms and kilogram quantities of crystal methamphetamine to an undercover agent. Morales also used his Instagram account to solicit and negotiate sales of firearms and narcotics.
The court cited Morales’ criminal history as a significant factor in determining his sentence.
Morales remains in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility, which will be determined in the near future.
The Texas Department of Public Safety and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with assistance from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Stabe prosecuted the case.
