Score:   1
Docket Number:   WD-WA  2:18-cr-00132
Case Name:   USA v. Morgan Jr. et al
  Press Releases:
Seattle – A Seattle man trafficking large amounts of cocaine in the Seattle area as a leader of a violent street gang was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 150 months in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. MICHAEL SCOTT MORGAN, 43, was arrested June 6, 2018, as part of a joint federal and state law enforcement effort targeting violent drug trafficking organizations.  At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones said trafficking drugs is not a victimless crime. “Every time you put drugs in the community, that could begin a lifetime of addiction, a lifetime prison sentence or overdose and death,” Judge Jones said.

“Not only did this defendant lead a drug dealing organization moving huge amounts of cocaine, he and his gang members are linked to violence throughout the region,” said U.S. Attorney Moran. “One look at his personal arsenal, which included assault weapons, high capacity magazines and even a weapon designed to pierce ballistic vests, and you know he needs to be off the streets for a significant period of time.” 

According to records filed in the case, MORGAN is a leader of the East Union Street Hustlers street gang, a subset of the Black Gangster Disciples (BGDs).  During various surveillance activities in 2017 and 2018, law enforcement identified MORGAN as the leader of a group trafficking large amounts of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and other drugs.  The group was linked to violence, including shootings and an assault at a casino. 

Much of the drug proceeds were laundered through area casinos, with MORGAN depositing more than $750,000 between January 2017 and January 2018.

On the date of the drug takedown, in June 2018, law enforcement seized six firearms at MORGAN’s residence: a loaded Glock pistol with loaded spare magazines: a Smith and Wesson “Bodyguard” .380 semiautomatic pistol; a .38 caliber revolver; a combat shotgun; a loaded AK-47-style assault pistol and a PS-90 PDW (personal defense weapon) which fires rounds designed to puncture body armor.  Also at the residence, law enforcement seized 41 cell phones, $66,000 in cash, and jewelry valued at more than $265,000.

MORGAN has a lengthy criminal history, including firearms offenses as a juvenile and adult, drug offenses, forgery, eluding and assault.

On June 26, 2019, MORGAN pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, being a felon in possession of a firearm and money laundering.

In all, 42 defendants have pleaded guilty in connection with the drug trafficking conspiracy.  The most significant sentences in the case to date range from five years in prison to 11.5 years in prison.

This was an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, providing supplemental federal funding to the federal and state agencies involved.  This investigation was led by the Seattle Police Department Gang and Narcotics Units, FBI Seattle Safe Streets Task Force, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).  Other agencies providing investigative assistance include ATF, USMS, and the U.S Bureau of Prisons.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Vince Lombardi, Erin Becker and Nicholas Manheim.

A sentencing exhibit with photos from the June 6, 2018 operation is attached to this release.

morgan_exhibit.pdf

 

Docket (0 Docs):   https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12K5sNXmE194UjMgThP2sI4WI5fx7aYKGEQJsHhk2KSc/edit#gid=0
  Last Updated: 2024-03-08 04:16:24 UTC
Description: The fiscal year of the data file obtained from the AOUSC
Format: YYYY

Description: The code of the federal judicial circuit where the case was located
Format: A2

Description: The code of the federal judicial district where the case was located
Format: A2

Description: The code of the district office where the case was located
Format: A2

Description: Docket number assigned by the district to the case
Format: A7

Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a case which cannot be modified by the court
Format: A3

Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a case which can be modified by the court
Format: A3

Description: A sequential number indicating whether a case is an original proceeding or a reopen
Format: N5

Description: Case type associated with the current defendant record
Format: A2

Description: A concatenation of district, office, docket number, case type, defendant number, and reopen sequence number
Format: A18

Description: A concatenation of district, office, docket number, case type, and reopen sequence number
Format: A15

Description: The status of the defendant as assigned by the AOUSC
Format: A2

Description: A code indicating the fugitive status of a defendant
Format: A1

Description: The date upon which a defendant became a fugitive
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which a fugitive defendant was taken into custody
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date when a case was first docketed in the district court
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which proceedings in a case commenced on charges pending in the district court where the defendant appeared, or the date of the defendant’s felony-waiver of indictment
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: A code used to identify the nature of the proceeding
Format: N2

Description: The date when a defendant first appeared before a judicial officer in the district court where a charge was pending
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: A code indicating the event by which a defendant appeared before a judicial officer in the district court where a charge was pending
Format: A2

Description: A code indicating the type of legal counsel assigned to a defendant
Format: N2

Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense committed which carried the highest severity
Format: A20

Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with FTITLE1
Format: N2

Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with FTITLE1
Format: A4

Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with FTITLE1
Format: A4

Description: A code indicating the severity associated with FTITLE1
Format: A3

Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense committed which carried the second highest severity
Format: A20

Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with FTITLE2
Format: N2

Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with FTITLE2
Format: A4

Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with FTITLE2
Format: A4

Description: A code indicating the severity associated with FTITLE2
Format: A3

Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense committed which carried the third highest severity
Format: A20

Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with FTITLE3
Format: N2

Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with FTITLE3
Format: A4

Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with FTITLE3
Format: A4

Description: A code indicating the severity associated with FTITLE3
Format: A3

Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense committed which carried the fourth highest severity
Format: A20

Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with FTITLE4
Format: N2

Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with FTITLE4
Format: A4

Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with FTITLE4
Format: A4

Description: A code indicating the severity associated with FTITLE4
Format: A3

Description: The FIPS code used to indicate the county or parish where an offense was committed
Format: A5

Description: The date of the last action taken on the record
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which judicial proceedings before the court concluded
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which the final sentence is recorded on the docket
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which the case was closed
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The total fine imposed at sentencing for all offenses of which the defendant was convicted and a fine was imposed
Format: N8

Description: A count of defendants filed including inter-district transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants filed excluding inter-district transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of original proceedings commenced
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants filed whose proceedings commenced by reopen, remand, appeal, or retrial
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants terminated including interdistrict transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants terminated excluding interdistrict transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of original proceedings terminated
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants terminated whose proceedings commenced by reopen, remand, appeal, or retrial
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants pending as of the last day of the period including long term fugitives
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants pending as of the last day of the period excluding long term fugitives
Format: N1

Description: The source from which the data were loaded into the AOUSC’s NewSTATS database
Format: A10

Description: A sequential number indicating the iteration of the defendant record
Format: N2

Description: The date the record was loaded into the AOUSC’s NewSTATS database
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: Statistical year ID label on data file obtained from the AOUSC which represents termination year
Format: YYYY

Data imported from FJC Integrated Database
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