LEXINGTON, Ky. — Federal drug agents say they seized hundreds of grams of fentanyl, methamphetamine and multiple firearms in a pair of coordinated raids this month that led to the arrests of two men accused of running separate fentanyl trafficking operations in Fayette County.
According to sworn affidavits filed in U.S. District Court, investigators with the Drug Enforcement Administration say Dominico Morbley and Phillip White were arrested Jan. 15 after months of surveillance, search warrants and information from cooperating witnesses tied each man to large-scale drug distribution in central Kentucky.
Stash apartment, kilo press and hundreds of grams seized
In Morbley’s case, agents say they identified an apartment on Camelot Drive in Lexington as a stash location used to store and distribute narcotics, separate from his residence in Georgetown. Investigators installed a covert camera in December and say it captured Morbley repeatedly arriving at the apartment, entering with a key, and then handing items to drivers in the parking lot in what agents described as suspected drug transactions.
When agents executed search warrants Jan. 15, they say they found about 302 grams of suspected fentanyl and 292 grams of methamphetamine inside the apartment, along with a kilo press, digital scales, blenders and other drug-processing equipment. Morbley later admitted the drugs were his, according to the affidavit.
Agents estimated the seized drugs amounted to roughly 1,500 fentanyl doses and 1,460 methamphetamine doses, far beyond personal use. Morbley was initially lodged at the Fayette County Detention Center on state trafficking charges.
Firearms, felon status alleged in second case
In a separate but contemporaneous investigation, agents arrested Phillip White after searches at two Lexington addresses they say were tied to his alleged drug operation.
According to the affidavit, agents found more than 226 grams of suspected fentanyl at a Hidden Point Drive residence, along with a loaded micro DRACO firearm on top of a kitchen cabinet, a handgun in a bedroom drawer and drug-packaging equipment within arm’s reach of the weapons. A search of White’s person turned up another 9 grams of suspected fentanyl, authorities said.
At White’s primary residence on VonBryan Trace, agents say they located a loaded AR-15-style rifle in a bedroom. Investigators allege White is prohibited from possessing firearms because of a prior felony cocaine trafficking conviction in Fayette County.
During an interview, White acknowledged knowing the rifle was in the home and referenced a firearm at the stash house before agents mentioned it, according to the affidavit.
Federal charges pending
Both cases were filed as federal criminal complaints in the Eastern District of Kentucky. Prosecutors allege Morbley possessed fentanyl and methamphetamine with intent to distribute, while White is accused of fentanyl trafficking, possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, and illegally possessing firearms as a convicted felon.
If charged by indictment and convicted, the allegations could carry lengthy federal prison sentences. The cases remain under review as lab testing on the seized drugs continues.
