Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

A convicted drug dealer, arrested with a stolen firearm, meth and heroin while on state probation, was found guilty by a federal jury following a week-long trial, announced U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes.  SETH ISSAC MORGAN, 33, was convicted June 15, 2015 of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during and in relation to drug trafficking, and felon in possession of a firearm.  When sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Marsha J. Pechman on September 18, 2015, MORGAN faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison.

“Drugs and guns are a dangerous combination, especially when it involves stolen firearms as it does in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes.  “I commend the federal, state and local law enforcement agencies who worked together to develop the evidence that led to Mr. Morgan’s conviction.”

According to records filed in the case and testimony at trial, in November 2013, law enforcement in the Everett area received multiple reports regarding MORGAN’s alleged drug dealing and possible connection to stolen firearms.  MORGAN was the subject of a Washington State Department of Corrections warrant for violating the terms of his probation.  Law enforcement located MORGAN at a north Everett apartment.  Surveillance revealed significant traffic to the apartment, an indication of possible drug dealing.  On November 26, 2013, when MORGAN emerged from the apartment with a backpack, officers arrested him as he attempted to back out of a parking space.  In the backpack MORGAN had methamphetamine, heroin and oxycodone packaged for distribution, cash and a Kahr, 9mm pistol which had been reported stolen.  A search of MORGAN’s apartment turned up additional drug residue and drug ledgers.

MORGAN has seven prior felony convictions including: robbery (Snohomish County 2003); rape (Snohomish County 2003); attempted burglary (Washoe County, Nevada 2006); failure to register as a sex offender (Snohomish County 2008); criminal impersonation (Snohomish County 2009); possession of a controlled substance with intent to manufacture or deliver (Snohomish County 2010); unlawful possession of a firearm (Snohomish County 2010).

The firearm MORGAN possessed was one of 29 stolen in a burglary of the Marysville Fred Meyer store.  Law enforcement received information that MORGAN purchased a number of stolen firearms that had been taken in the burglary.  The man who stole the firearms was sentenced in April to ten years in prison.  Others involved in selling the stolen firearms received prison sentences of 3-5 years in prison.

The lead investigative agency on the MORGAN prosecution was the Everett Police Department and Washington State Department of Corrections, with assistance from the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), and the Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kate Crisham and Special Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin Diggs.

Press contact for the U.S. Attorney’s Office is Public Affairs Officer Emily Langlie at (206) 553-4110 or Emily.Langlie@usdoj.gov.

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