Feds use Seattle gangster's selfie against him Felon caught with gun connected to 4 shootings again sentenced to federal prison

Convicted felon Samuel Morales, Jr., 34, of Seattle, is pictured in a selfie submitted into evidence by federal prosecutors. One of the guns pictured has been tied to four shootings. Convicted felon Samuel Morales, Jr., 34, of Seattle, is pictured in a selfie submitted into evidence by federal prosecutors. One of the guns pictured has been tied to four shootings. Photo: Department Of Justice Photo: Department Of Justice Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Feds use Seattle gangster's selfie against him 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

“I don’t know why prison hasn’t worked. I’ve spent all my life there. I hate prison.”

That was Samuel Morales Jr. in November 2009, shortly before he landed his second federal prison sentence. Seven years later, it’s safe to say he still doesn’t know why prison hasn’t worked. But it hasn’t.

Morales, a Seattle resident when he’s not locked up, was sentenced Thursday to another stint in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Ricardo Martinez sentenced the 34-year-old to 6½ years for gun crimes and probation violations.

A gangster who started in crime before he entered his teens, Morales was caught with a gun in March after he was arrested for probation violations. As it turned out, the gun he was caught with had been seeing a lot of use.

Months before his arrest, Seattle Police Department officers were called to Morales’ Corson Avenue South home after reports of a shooting there.

Describing the Nov. 29 incident, a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives special agent said a pizza delivery driver was shot at by a stranger. The deliveryman had circled the block looking for a home when a man with a pistol shot at his car.

Investigators collected several .45-caliber shell casings at the scene. Writing in court papers, the ATF agent said investigators have since tied the weapon to a Jan. 16 shooting at a Federal Way apartment complex, a Jan. 24 shooting at a Federal Way mobile home park and a March 13 shooting in Seattle’s South Park neighborhood.

The victim of the second Seattle shooting told police he was sitting on the front porch of his South Donovan Street home when an older American luxury car pulled up. The driver shouted “What’s up G?” and opened fire.

Morales was arrested March 21 in a Lincoln Town Car parked outside his South Seattle home. He was arrested without incident and found to be wearing a pistol holster on his right hip.

A boy in the car ran from police, carrying a pistol in his hand, according to prosecutors’ statements. He tossed that pistol as well as a second gun before he was apprehended by police.

Investigators searching the Lincoln and Morales’ apartment found two bolt-action rifles and a collection of ammunition that included a spent shotgun shell.

Problematically for Morales, they also found a selfie he had taken, posing with two pistols that appeared to be identical to those ditched by his young friend. Morales hid his face in the photo but failed to conceal a large tattoo on his hand.

Morales has not been accused in the shootings. He pleaded guilty to federal firearms charges brought following his arrest.

As a convicted felon several times over, Morales isn’t allowed to own firearms. He was sentenced to four years in federal prison after being caught with a gun in 2004; he was sent back to prison in 2009 for drug crimes.

Investigators describe Morales as a longtime member and leader of a Seattle-area Sureño street gang, the United Lokotes. They also claim he’s an addict with significant untreated mental health problems, including post traumatic stress disorder and agoraphobia.

“Morales has amply demonstrated that he is a danger to the community,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Hobbs said in court papers. “By engaging others in criminal activity, Morales is perpetuating the cycle of violence and criminality in which he has participated for years.”

Morales turned to crime at age 12 after he was essentially abandoned by his parents. He was raised on Seattle’s streets and soon became enmeshed in the gang life that has so far defined him. He remarked that the only peaceful sleep he enjoyed as a child was at juvenile hall.

“Even though I would cry myself to sleep in there, at least I wasn’t homeless,” Morales said in court papers.

Despite his client’s history, defense attorney Kevin Peck said he still sees a “spark and hope” in Morales. Crime, addiction and prison have not yet broken him entirely.

In a letter to Judge Martinez, Morales expressed that hope.

“While I continue to struggle to make myself a contributing member of society, I know I have it in me to accomplish this goal,” Morales said in his letter. “I am sure both you and I are dismayed that I keep coming back before the court. …

“I look forward to proving to you that I can be a productive member of society.”

Morales remains jailed pending his transfer to a Bureau of Prisons facility.

Seattlepi.com reporter Levi Pulkkinen can be reached at 206-448-8348 or levipulkkinen@seattlepi.com. Follow Levi on Twitter at twitter.com/levipulk.