Robert Morris, 49, of Honolulu, was arrested and charged with assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon, using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The charges were announced by Acting United States Attorney Ken Sorenson.
According to court documents, federal agents attempted to execute a search warrant at Morris’s residence on October 21. Before law enforcement could enter the home, Morris fired several shots from inside, injuring a DEA Task Force Officer. Law enforcement returned fire into the residence. Following this exchange, Morris refused to exit his home and began broadcasting live on Facebook during the standoff.
The standoff lasted approximately sixteen hours before Morris surrendered and was taken into custody. Authorities found a .40 caliber firearm inside the residence that Morris admitted using during the incident.
If convicted, Morris faces up to 20 years in prison for assaulting a federal officer and up to 15 years for being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. He also faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years—up to life—for using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence; this sentence would run consecutively to any other imposed sentences.
"The charges in the criminal complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines," according to information provided by authorities.
The investigation is being led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with support from several agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Honolulu Police Department, and Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Albanese is prosecuting the case.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America—a national initiative coordinated by the Department of Justice that focuses resources against illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations through efforts like Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
