Portsmouth prosecutor resigns days before federal drug charges

PORTSMOUTH, Virginia – A former Portsmouth assistant district attorney has resigned from his post just four days before he was due to be indicted on federal drug trafficking charges, the Portsmouth district attorney's office said.

According to court documents, Matthew Taylor Morris, 38, was charged on Sept. 10. A spokesman for the Portsmouth Commonwealth's Attorney said Morris resigned on Friday, Sept. 6.

According to the indictment, between March 2021 and May 2022, Morris, with the assistance of Nicholas Capehart, Donald Rogers, Jeffery Sines and others, conspired and aided in the possession, distribution and sale of marijuana in Hampton Roads and the Eastern District of Virginia.

Rogers allegedly met with marijuana wholesalers, loaded the drug onto trucks and stored it in stash houses he set up throughout Hampton Roads and at Morris' law office.

According to court documents, Morris and his co-conspirators also used encrypted messaging apps on their cell phones to evade law enforcement and hide evidence of their alleged crimes.

Morris is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and criminal seizure. He is scheduled to appear in court on September 24.