Drugs, guns and money: Morgan City man faces 17 counts

A Morgan City man targeted in a drug investigation was arrested Friday on 17 drug, gun and currency counts, including possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine and crack.

The Morgan City Police Department said officers arrested Gary Paul Francis, 39, Keith Street, at 8:19 a.m. Friday after executing search warrants at city locations identified in the investigation into drug activity.

In all, they seized 165 grams of powder cocaine, 26 grams of crack cocaine, 370 grams of methamphetamine, 55 grams of fentanyl in powder and pill form, 56 grams of synthetic marijuana, 15 grams of MDMA in powder and pill form, 413 grams of marijuana and 27 Suboxone strips, the Police Department said.

There are about 28 grams in an ounce and 453 grams in a pound.

Officers also seized 13 firearms, including a full-size AR-15 rifle, two AR-15 style pistols, a pistol-grip short-barreled shotgun and nine other guns.

One of the AR-15-style pistols was equipped with a forced reset trigger, designed to allow a significantly increased rate of fire, simulating fully automatic fire, police said.

Of particular concern, the Police Department said, investigators also recovered a machine gun conversion device, commonly known as a drop-in auto sear. This device is designed to convert an AR-15-style semiautomatic firearm into a fully automatic weapon, capable of firing multiple rounds with a single function of the trigger.

Under federal law, machine gun conversion devices are themselves classified as machine guns, regardless of whether they are installed in a firearm. Further investigation revealed that one of the recovered firearms had been reported stolen.

Investigators also recovered bullet-resistant body armor during the execution of the search warrants.

Additionally, investigators located and seized over $9,500 in U.S. currency during the searches.

Francis was booked on charges of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, synthetic cannabinoids, MDMA, cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and Suboxone; possession of a legend drug without a prescription; possession of drug paraphernalia; transactions involving proceeds from drug offenses; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; possession of firearms in the presence of controlled dangerous substances; illegal possession of body armor; possession of a machine gun; manufacturing of a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance (crack cocaine); possession of stolen firearms; and possession of a firearm by a person convicted of domestic violence.

The investigation continues, and additional charges or arrests may be forthcoming.

Chief Chad M. Adams and the Morgan City Police Department “remain committed to combating illegal narcotics distribution and removing dangerous drugs and illegally possessed firearms from our community,” the Police Department said in an online post.