Little Rock, Arkansas – A North Little Rock man with a lengthy criminal history will spend the next 15 years in federal prison after admitting to illegally possessing a firearm while on supervised release. Federal officials say the case underscores the serious penalties faced by repeat offenders who continue to engage in drug and firearm violations.
Morris Anthony Campbell, 43, of North Little Rock, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down Tuesday, February 3, 2026, by James M. Moody Jr., United States District Judge.
Guilty plea and supervised release revoked
A federal grand jury previously indicted Campbell on three counts, including being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On October 1, 2025, Campbell pleaded guilty to the felon in possession charge.
Judge Moody sentenced Campbell to 180 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. The judge also revoked Campbell’s supervised release connected to a 2020 federal conviction and ordered him to serve an additional two years in prison concurrent with the new sentence. Federal authorities note that there is no parole in the federal system.
Traffic stop leads to firearm discovery
The investigation began on April 3, 2025, when law enforcement officers observed Campbell driving a vehicle with fictitious tags and initiated a traffic stop. When officers made contact with Campbell, they detected the odor of marijuana, prompting a search of both the driver and the vehicle.
During the search of Campbell’s person, officers located a bag containing a scale, empty baggies, a smaller bag containing pills, and two separate bags of marijuana. A search of the vehicle led officers to the engine compartment, where they discovered an FN Model 509 9mm handgun wrapped in a shirt. The firearm had been reported stolen and was loaded with a magazine containing 22 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Campbell admitted to officers that he was aware of both the firearm and the marijuana.
Armed career criminal designation
Federal prosecutors determined Campbell qualifies as an armed career criminal due to at least three prior convictions for violent felonies or serious drug offenses. His criminal history includes a February 27, 2020 federal drug conviction that resulted in a 46-month prison sentence and five years of supervised release, as well as a 2009 federal conviction for distribution of cocaine base.
His record also includes a robbery conviction, multiple convictions for possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, first-degree terroristic threatening, second-degree terroristic threatening, and third-degree assault on a family or household member. At the time of his arrest in this case, Campbell was on supervised release.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the North Little Rock Police Department.
Federal officials say the sentence reflects the seriousness of firearm possession by repeat offenders and highlights ongoing efforts to protect communities from individuals with violent criminal histories.
