District of Alaska
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Two Anchorage men sentenced to decades in prison for roles in Homeland Security Task Force drug trafficking conspiracy caseRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Two Anchorage men were sentenced over the past two months to decades in prison for their roles in a local drug trafficking conspiracy.
According to court documents, from March 2024 to March 2025, Aaron Washington, 60, led a drug trafficking organization involving James Barber, 44, and multiple other people who conspired to import drugs, mainly fentanyl, from the Lower 48 and distribute the drugs in Alaska.
Washington used co-conspirator drug suppliers located in Arizona and Washington state. Washington arranged for the drugs to be transported back to Alaska either in his checked baggage, in his co-defendants' checked baggage or via mail shipment. Phone data revealed that Washington communicated with co-conspirators at length to arrange for the pick-up, purchase, shipment and distribution of drugs. Barber, who worked as a paralegal, used his professional skills to provide legal advice to Washington on facilitating the drug trafficking organization.
Evidence presented during Barber’s trial showed that between November 2024 and March 2025, Barber regularly went to the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport to pick up luggage containing one to two kilograms of fentanyl on behalf of the drug trafficking conspiracy.
On one occasion, Washington flew from Anchorage to Phoenix on Nov. 14, 2024, to purchase fentanyl from a codefendant. Washington flew back to Anchorage on Nov. 18. Surveillance video showed Washington bypassing the luggage carousel and heading for the taxi line, while Barber picked up a checked suitcase and left separately.
On another occasion later that month, Washington again flew to Phoenix and returned with two kilograms of fentanyl purchased from a co-conspirator. Law enforcement seized the fentanyl pursuant to a search warrant at the airport. Texts between Washington and Barber indicated that Barber was planning to pick up the luggage at the airport but failed to do so. Washington took the empty bag and took a taxi home.
Law enforcement recorded at least seven other trips with similar circumstances to both November incidents and connected roughly 20 kilograms of fentanyl, 70 grams of heroin, 165 grams of methamphetamine and 10 grams of cocaine to the drug trafficking conspiracy.
Barber was convicted by a federal jury in April 2026 and sentenced today to 27 years in prison and will spend 20 years on supervised release upon completion of his prison sentence. Washington pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances in February 2026 and was sentenced on July 15, 2026, to 25 years in prison and will serve 10 years on supervised release upon the completion of his prison sentence.
“Mr. Washington and Mr. Barber acted with arrogance, gambling with Alaskans’ lives—and in Barber’s case, using his paralegal experience to circumvent the law and expand a drug trafficking network in our state,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “It is this kind of disregard for the law and for human life that fuels substance abuse nationwide. My office is committed to disrupting that pipeline here in Alaska. This isn’t just a warning; it is a promise that we will work relentlessly to find anyone pumping poison into our communities and hold them accountable.”
“These sentences follow a thorough investigation that led to multiple arrests, significant drug seizures, and the complete dismantlement of a multi-state drug trafficking organization operated and advanced by Mr. Washington and Mr. Barber,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Schlegel of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively target violent offenders and dismantle drug trafficking organizations that fuel violence and addiction in our communities, while holding drug traffickers accountable for their crimes.”
All other co-defendants in this case have pleaded guilty and have either received their sentence or are awaiting sentencing.
The FBI Anchorage Field Office investigated this case, with assistance from the Alaska State Troopers and Anchorage Police Department as part of the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, and from the Mat-Su High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) team. Additional assistance was provided by the Airport HIDTA team and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tom Bradley, Mac Caille Petursson and Alana Weber prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Region One comprises agents and officers from Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations – Seattle; the United States Attorney’s Office(s) for the Districts of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Eastern Washington, and Western Washington; the Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP); CBP – Office of Field Operations; CBP – Air & Marine Operations; U.S. Border Patrol; U.S. Coast Guard, Coast Guard Investigative Service; and Transportation Security Administration, Law Enforcement/Federal Air Marshal Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska.
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Anchorage businesswoman sentenced to prison for fraudulently obtaining, misusing nearly $1M in COVID-19 relief funds for personal gainRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - An Anchorage businesswoman was sentenced today to 3.8 years in prison for lying on federal loan applications and stealing identities to fraudulently obtain nearly $1 million in COVID-19 relief funds.
According to court documents, Cheryl Labrie, 39, was the owner of AKBS LLC, doing business as Liberty Tax Service and Alaska’s Bookkeeping Solutions, providing bookkeeping and tax preparation services in Alaska, including for several marijuana businesses. Over the course of more than a year, Labrie applied for and obtained multiple emergency relief loans and advances, totaling nearly $1 million.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Small Business Administration (SBA) provided funds to qualifying small businesses to offset the impacts of the pandemic. The two SBA programs relevant to this case are the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The funding for these programs was limited and when it ran out there were thousands of applications from small businesses pending that were never funded.
Between April 2020 and November 2021, Labrie falsified applications and submitted fraudulent IRS documents seeking four loans and two forgiveness applications from the EIDL and PPP programs. She obtained over $970,000 in federal tax-payer dollars through these applications. Labrie falsely certified on her applications that she had never been convicted or pleaded guilty to a crime and had never been placed on pretrial diversion or probation. Labrie had two prior convictions and was on probation when she filed the applications.
She also falsely stated that the funds would be used for business expenses, like payroll relief for AKBS LLC. Instead, Labrie used the fraudulently obtained federal funds for her personal use including purchasing a parcel of land on the hillside and making a downpayment for a personal residence. Labrie also used the relief funds to pay off her prior criminal restitution and other unauthorized debts. To disguise her misuse of federal funds, Labrie co-mingled the funds with cash from her marijuana clients, structured transactions through multiple accounts, and utilized money orders and cashier checks before spending the funds for personal purposes.
Labrie also used the personal identifying information of seven marijuana business employees, without their permission, to falsely claim them as employees of AKBS LLC to obtain funds her business was not eligible to receive.
On Jan. 18, 2024, Labrie was indicted by a federal grand jury on 12 criminal counts. On March 20, 2025, and Feb. 18, 2026, a federal grand jury in Alaska returned superseding indictments against LaBrie, ultimately charging her with seven counts of aggravated identity theft, six counts of wire fraud, and two counts of money laundering. On April 13, 2026, Labrie pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
During sentencing, in addition to incarceration, the Court also ordered Labrie to serve three years on supervised release upon completion of her prison sentence. The total loss amount in this case was more than $970,000, and the Court ordered Labrie to pay the total loss amount in full through restitution.
“Ms. Labrie orchestrated an elaborate web of deceit to steal nearly $1 million from the American taxpayers, funds that could have benefited struggling businesses during a national emergency,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “Tackling fraud against the American purse is a priority for my office and this administration. We must protect the systems set in place to assist law abiding U.S. citizens in times of need.”
“Lying to gain access to SBA’s pandemic response programs will be met with justice,” said SBA OIG’s Acting Special Agent in Charge, Tim Larson. “OIG will aggressively pursue evidence of fraud against SBA’s programs aimed at assisting the nation’s small businesses struggling with the pandemic challenges. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and pursuit of justice.”
The investigation was led by the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, with significant assistance from the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, FBI Anchorage Field Office and IRS Criminal Investigation Anchorage Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrea Steward and Mac Caille Petursson prosecuted the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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Wasilla man charged with making threats, stalking Michigan public officialRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment last month charging a Wasilla man with making threats in interstate commerce and stalking.
According to court documents, between Sept. 18 and 23, 2025, James Lawhorn, 54, allegedly sent communications on Facebook to multiple accounts, on a city website, and by telephone that contained threats to injure and murder the mayor of a city in Michigan. Some messages included:
- “We must get this scum out of our country now. Put a bullet in this mf’s head now.”
- “This mayor needs to be killed now…. Hang him and all his family now. He is not safe on the streets anymore.”
- “All Muslims must now die in America because of this fucking fag. No sleep until he is in the dirt along with all his scum family and friends and Muslims.”
In total, Lawhorn sent more than 20 threatening messages. The messages contained violent rhetoric and threats of assassination, including via hanging and firing squad.
Lawhorn is charged with seven counts of making threats in interstate commerce and one count of stalking. The defendant made his initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew M. Scoble of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Matthew Schlegel of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Anchorage Field Office is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Steward is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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California woman arrested, charged with distributing meth that caused overdose death of Unalaska worker in Homeland Security Task Force caseRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A California woman was arrested last week in Santa Barbara, California, after a federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging her with distributing methamphetamine that resulted in the fatal overdose of an Unalaska fishing industry worker.
According to court documents, between Jan. 21 and Feb. 2, 2025, Darlene Moreno, 44, of Port Hueneme, California, distributed methamphetamine to a 48-year-old victim in Unalaska. On Feb. 2, the victim allegedly used the methamphetamine and fatally overdosed. Law enforcement recovered a baggie of crystal-like substance from the victim and sent the substance for testing. Lab results confirmed the substance was 98% pure methamphetamine. The State of Alaska medical examiner ruled the victim’s cause of death as methamphetamine intoxication.
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Alaska; U.S. v Moreno, Case #: 3:26-cr-00058Court documents allege that investigators found social media conversations between the victim and Moreno discussing the purchase of methamphetamine. Moreno allegedly shipped a package containing methamphetamine from California to Unalaska on Jan. 21, 2025. The victim picked up the package on Jan. 31, two days before they fatally overdosed.
Moreno is charged with one count of distribution of methamphetamine resulting in death and one count of use of a communication facility in committing, causing and facilitating the commission of a drug trafficking felony. The defendant is scheduled to make her initial court appearance today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. If convicted, she faces between 20 years to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman of the District of Alaska, Special Agent in Charge Paul Schultz of the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) Northwest Field Office and Chief Kim Hankins of the Unalaska Police Department made the announcement.
The CGIS Northwest Field Office and Unalaska Police Department are investigating the case, with assistance from the FBI Anchorage Field Office and U.S. Postal Inspection Service Anchorage Domicile. The FBI Los Angeles Field Office, Oxnard Police Department in California, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department in California and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department in California assisted with operational support.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy Mackenzie is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Region One comprises agents and officers from Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations – Seattle; the United States Attorney’s Office(s) for the Districts of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Eastern Washington, and Western Washington; the Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP); CBP – Office of Field Operations; CBP – Air & Marine Operations; U.S. Border Patrol; U.S. Coast Guard, Coast Guard Investigative Service; and Transportation Security Administration, Law Enforcement/Federal Air Marshal Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska.
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Final defendant sentenced to 21 years for distributing fentanyl resulting in fatal overdose in Homeland Security Task Force caseRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Fairbanks woman was sentenced today to 21 years in prison for her role in distributing fentanyl that resulted in the overdose death of a local man in 2022.
According to court documents, from May to July 2022, Samantha Pearson, 39, and Edward Ginnis, 40, of Fairbanks, conspired together and with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute drugs in the Fairbanks area. Specifically, Ginnis distributed drugs to Pearson, who then sold the substances to others. Ginnis and Pearson’s actions were a small part of a larger drug trafficking enterprise allegedly being directed by an inmate in a California prison.
On or about June 11, 2022, Ginnis received a shipment of drugs through the mail that contained fentanyl. Later that day, Ginnis sent text messages to several distributors asking if they had potential purchasers. Pearson offered to help sell drugs. On June 25, Adam Sakkinen, 32, an individual who struggled with heroin usage, messaged Pearson asking to purchase drugs. Around noon, Pearson agreed to sell drugs to Sakkinen. Sakkinen sent Pearson $50.00 before messaging that he was on his way. At 12:34 p.m., Sakkinen called Pearson.
Later, at 12:58 p.m. that same day, local fire and emergency medical services responded to a single car accident on the side of a road in Badger, Alaska. First responders found Sakkinen unconscious behind the wheel of a car with drug paraphernalia in his hands and near him. Law enforcement officials tested the paraphernalia, and it tested positive for fentanyl.
First responders administered six doses of Narcan to Sakkinen and he regained a pulse. Sakkinen was transported to two hospitals and was put on life support at a hospital in Anchorage. Sakkinen spent 11 days in the intensive care unit before he passed away. A sample of Sakkinen’s blood was sent for testing and lab results found that he had 20 nanograms per milliliter of fentanyl in his bloodstream at the time of his death. Reports show that the average lethal level of fentanyl in the bloodstream is eight nanograms per milliliter.
On Jan. 18, 2025, Pearson and Ginnis were indicted on federal drug trafficking charges. Pearson and Ginnis both pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in death on April 20, 2026, and April 3, 2025, respectively. On July 8, 2025, Ginnis was sentenced to 22 years in prison.
In handing down Pearson’s sentence, the Court recognized the devastating impact fentanyl has had in Alaskan communities, stating that “this was more of a poisoning than an overdose.” The Court also emphasized the need for general deterrence by stating that the public should know that if someone sells an illegal substance and another person dies, the sentence imposed will be harsh.
“This sentence is the conclusion of a multi-year investigation and prosecution to hold Ms. Pearson and Mr. Ginnis accountable for their greed-motivated decision to distribute the drugs that took an innocent life,” said U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon. “I commend the phenomenal investigatory and prosecutorial efforts put forth by the Assistant U.S. Attorneys and law enforcement in Alaska throughout this case. It takes all of us to dismantle the drug pipeline targeting our country.”
“Fentanyl traffickers who choose profit over human life will be held accountable,” said Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration Seattle Field Division. “The defendant’s role in distributing the fentanyl that killed a member of the Fairbanks community underscores the deadly consequences of this poison. Through Fentanyl Free America, DEA is relentlessly disrupting the criminal networks driving this crisis, reducing the availability of fentanyl, and protecting American lives. DEA and our law enforcement partners will not stop until those responsible are brought to justice.”
“Those who traffic fentanyl in Alaska endanger entire communities and destroy families,” said Colonel Maurice Hughes, Director of the Alaska State Troopers. “This sentence reinforces a simple point: drug traffickers will be held accountable for the destruction that they cause. The Alaska State Troopers, alongside our local, state, and federal partners, will continue to relentlessly pursue these criminals, disrupt their operations, and protect Alaskans from the deadly impact of these illicit substances.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska has been recused from this case with the exception of certain personnel. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven D. Clymer from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York has been appointed as Special Attorney to the United States Attorney General to assist with this and other recused cases. He reports to and acts under the direction of the Deputy Attorney General, or his delegee, or U.S. Attorney Bradford in these cases. Special Attorney Clymer supervises personnel from the District of Alaska who have been exempted from the recusal.
The DEA Seattle Field Division and Anchorage District Office, Alaska State Troopers, North Slope Borough Police Department, North Pole Police Department and Fairbanks Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephan Collins, Chris Schroeder and Alana Weber are prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Region One comprises agents and officers from Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations – Seattle; the United States Attorney’s Office(s) for the Districts of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Eastern Washington, and Western Washington; the Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP); CBP – Office of Field Operations; CBP – Air & Marine Operations; U.S. Border Patrol; U.S. Coast Guard, Coast Guard Investigative Service; and Transportation Security Administration, Law Enforcement/Federal Air Marshal Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska.
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Anchorage man sentenced to 6 years for possessing a firearm as a felon during a domestic violence assaultRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - An Anchorage man was sentenced Tuesday to over six and a half years in prison for possessing a firearm as a felon while he committed a crime of domestic violence.
According to court documents, in November 2024, Detallion Owens, 29, violently assaulted a domestic partner while a child was present. Court documents explain that Owens was intoxicated and started an argument with the victim. As the argument progressed, Owens pulled out a gun, pulled the slide back to rack a bullet and pointed it at the victim’s head while she was holding a newborn child. Owens continued the argument and then stole the victim’s phone and keys before fleeing in her car.
Law enforcement officers later found Owens as the sole occupant of the victim’s car and attempted to barricade the car to prevent him from fleeing. Owens attempted to flee by ramming the stolen car forward and backward into the police cars, but he was unsuccessful. Owens then attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended by officers. Law enforcement officers found Owens’ loaded handgun in plain view on the driver’s seat and later discovered it was stolen. Officers also recovered the victim’s phone and a loaded magazine that fell from Owens’ person during the struggle with police.
At the time of this incident, Owens had a felony conviction for robbery in the first degree, prohibiting him from possessing firearms. He was also actively on state probation for armed robbery and assault convictions at the time of this offense.
On Jan. 21, 2025, Owens was indicted by a federal grand jury. On May 6, 2025, Owens pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. At sentencing, the Court also ordered Owens to serve three years on supervised release upon completion of his prison sentence.
“Mr. Owens perpetrated a frightening act of domestic violence in front of a child, earning a lengthy sentence under federal criminal law,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “I want to commend the police officers and law enforcement that apprehended Mr. Owens as swiftly as possible before more damage occurred. Charging domestic violence offenders with being a felon in possession of a firearm is one of the tools my office will continue to leverage in the federal system to make the community safer.”
“The sentence imposed today reflects the serious danger this defendant posed to our community. The defendant’s actions were not isolated acts of poor judgement, but deliberate, violent choices that put innocent lives at grave risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Seattle Field Division. “ATF remains committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who use firearms to threaten, intimidate, and endanger others.”
The ATF Seattle Field Division and Anchorage Field Office investigated the case with significant assistance from the Anchorage Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac Caille Petursson prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office receives funding to hire AUSA to prosecute crimes in rural Alaska following Acting Attorney General Blanche’s visitRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska announced today the allocation of funds from the Justice Department to hire a permanent criminal Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) specifically focused on prosecuting federal cases impacting rural Alaska and our Tribal communities. This position allocation is a direct result of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s recent trip to Alaska.
On July 7 and 8, Acting Attorney General Blanche traveled to Anchorage and the Western Alaska communities of Bethel and Emmonak. During his visit, he heard firsthand the need for increased resources to address public safety concerns in rural communities.
Most recent reports estimate that Alaska’s violent crime rate is 5.4 times the national rate. They also estimate aggravated assaults as 6.7 times higher and rapes as 3.1 times higher than the national rates. According to 2024 state crime data, 41% of murder victims from that year were Alaska Native, despite making up less than 15% of the state’s population. These statistics are reinforced by rural communities, Tribal leaders and advocates from across the state sharing their experiences in rural communities. These include the destruction drug trafficking and substance abuse have caused in their regions and villages and how violent crime and drug trafficking are inextricably linked to one another.
This AUSA will work with law enforcement from across the state to review public safety concerns and pursue prosecutions for illegal firearms offenses, drug crimes, child exploitation, violent crimes and fraud. The job announcement is open and currently accepting applications. This job is open to all U.S. Citizens or Nationals.
“Violent crime and drug trafficking have devastated many of our Alaskan communities, particularly those in rural areas. While we’ve seen some recent improvement, Acting Attorney General Blanche heard our requests for additional federal assistance in addressing public safety concerns in rural and Tribal communities,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “I want to thank every Alaskan that has sat with me, members of my team, law enforcement and DOJ leaders to share their experiences. This new Indian Country/Rural Alaska AUSA will work with law enforcement in every corner of our state to pursue federal charges against criminals who target women, children and communities with their illegal actions.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska is seeking applications from experienced and motivated attorneys who have superb research and writing skills, as well as a criminal law background and a desire to prosecute cases impacting rural Alaska. Interested applicants can learn more about the job opportunity by visiting the job posting or on USAJobs here: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/877127200
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Repeat offender sentenced to 12 years for drug trafficking, money laundering crimesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage woman was sentenced today to 12 and a half years in prison for trafficking drugs and laundering tens of thousands of dollars in illegal drug proceeds.
According to court documents, Mao “Molly” Lee, 37, possessed methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl and cocaine with the intent to distribute them into the community and laundered just under $100,000 in illegal drug proceeds, all as a repeat offender.
In 2014, Lee was convicted of federal drug trafficking crimes and sentenced to just over three years in prison. Upon her release from prison, Lee absconded from court mandated supervision, committed nearly a dozen supervision violations and committed additional federal drug trafficking crimes.
In February 2019, Lee was arrested at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport on new federal drug trafficking charges after she attempted to smuggle over 300 grams of methamphetamine and 18 grams of heroin to Kodiak. Lee was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the second offense but was granted compassionate release in 2023 to serve the remainder of her sentence on supervised release. Within three months of her release, she absconded from supervision, resumed drug trafficking and began laundering money.
During September to November 2024, Lee distributed drugs within Anchorage on multiple occasions. In total, Lee was responsible for trafficking over 75 grams of methamphetamine, over 25 grams of heroin, roughly six grams of fentanyl and under a gram of cocaine.
Between July 2023 and November 2024, Lee conspired with others to launder over $90,400 in drug proceeds through Cash App and attempted to launder nearly an additional $32,000 in drug proceeds.
On Aug. 21, 2025, Lee was indicted by a federal grand jury for the most recent offenses. On March 30, 2026, Lee pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute and one count of money laundering conspiracy. She also admitted to multiple supervised release violations from her previous federal conviction.
Lee’s two previous federal drug trafficking convictions defined her as a career offender, which warranted a sentencing enhancement. During sentencing, the Court also ordered Lee to serve eight years on supervised release following her release from prison and pay a $25,000 fine.
“Ms. Lee made a career out of drug trafficking, choosing a life of crime and dishonesty at every turn,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “We’ve seen the devastating effects drug trafficking has had on our communities and addressing this threat has been a priority for my office over the past year and a half. One by one, we will take down every drug trafficker that threatens the safety of our state.”
“This sentence sends a clear message that repeat drug traffickers who continue to poison our communities will be held accountable,” said Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration Seattle Field Division. “Every seizure and every prosecution disrupt the supply chain that fuels addiction and overdose deaths. Through DEA’s Fentanyl Free America, we are working alongside our law enforcement partners to reduce the availability of illicit fentanyl, dismantle the criminal organizations responsible for its distribution, and save American lives.”
The DEA Seattle Field Division and Anchorage District Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Anchorage Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation Anchorage Field Office, U.S. Marshals Service and Anchorage Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ainsley McNerney and Chris Schroeder prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
UPDATE: This release has been updated to include additional law enforcement agencies.
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Justice Department awards over $6.1M to Tribal governments, nonprofits, and law enforcement agencies in Alaska this monthRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The Justice Department recently announced that the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) awarded nine grants, totaling over $6.1 million, to Tribal governments, nonprofits, and law enforcement agencies located or operating in Alaska. With these recent awards, DOJ has awarded over $97 million in fiscal year (FY) 2025 funding to Alaska to directly support law enforcement, combat violent crime, provide services to crime victims, and bolster their efforts to keep women safe in their state.
“Law enforcement, juvenile justice, and victim advocacy programs are essential services, particularly at the state and local community levels,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. “The Trump Administration recognizes this commonsense truth and has provided strong support tailored to Alaska’s specific needs. These recent grants are part of a broader effort to make America, and Alaska, safe again.”
“Alaska faces public safety challenges unlike anywhere else in the country and meeting them requires solutions that are just as unique and focused,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “In Alaska, federal, state, local and Tribal partners stand shoulder to shoulder to protect our communities. We are pleased to know that these grants will go directly to communities and agencies to improve public safety and provide resources for Alaskans in all corners of our state.”
OVW Funding:
This month, OVW awarded over $3.9 million in grants to combat violence against women in Alaska. These grants will support services for victims of domestic and sexual violence in and beyond Alaska Native villages, better access to safety and justice for victims with disabilities, training on successful strategies for keeping victims safe and holding perpetrators accountable, cybercrimes enforcement, and programs that involve men and youth in preventing violence against women and girls.
These grants follow the Trump Administration’s unprecedented investment of OVW grant dollars in Alaska’s public safety efforts last year. OVW has awarded 45 grants totaling more than $30 million to Tribal and state governments and nonprofit organizations in Alaska to bolster their efforts to keep women safe.
OJP Funding:
This month, OJP awarded over $2.2 million in grants to the Alaska Department of Public Safety and Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice. The funds will be used to enhance statewide drug interdiction and enforcement through the Statewide Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU); deliver specialized de-escalation and intervention training to law enforcement including local and tribal police departments, state troopers, Village Public Safety Officers, and the Alaska State Troopers’ Advanced Training Unit; and maintain compliance with the Juvenile Justice Delinquency and Prevention Act, reduce juvenile recidivism rates (specifically targeting Alaska Native juveniles), and improve the juvenile justice system.
For more information on the OJP, visit: www.ojp.gov. For more information on the OVW, visit: www.justice.gov/ovw.
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Soldotna man arrested on child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Soldotna man was arrested last week in Sterling on criminal charges related to his alleged possession and receipt of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, Adam O’Guinn, 29, had allegedly been identified as using PayPal to make approximately 27 purchases from known sources of CSAM. Upon the execution of a search warrant at the defendant’s residence, law enforcement allegedly discovered CSAM on his phone. O’Guinn allegedly purchased CSAM over at least two years.
O’Guinn is charged with one count of possession of child pornography and one count of receipt of child pornography. The defendant made his initial court appearance on July 2 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, O’Guinn faces between five and 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman of the District of Alaska and William Ferrari, Deputy Assistant Director, Diplomatic Security Service – Office of Investigations made the announcement.
The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service is investigating the case, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service’s Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force and the Alaska State Troopers. If anyone has information concerning O’Guinn’s alleged actions, please contact the U.S. Department of State at [email protected].
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Alexander and Jordyn Caldwell are prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
UPDATE: This release has been updated to correct the tip email listed.
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Anchorage man sentenced for illegally trafficking firearms, including 3D printed firearm and machinegun conversion devicesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage man was sentenced today to 4.75 years in prison for trafficking firearms and illegally possessing a machine gun.
According to court documents, starting in January 2025, Kendon Rowcroft-Ivy, 20, began communicating via text message with an individual to arrange the sale of firearms. On Jan. 31, 2025, Rowcroft-Ivy met with the individual and sold them two machine gun conversion devices for $1,000. On Feb. 4, 2025, Rowcroft-Ivy sold the same individual 10 other conversion devices and a pistol with a silencer. Two days later, Rowcroft-Ivy sold the individual a 3D printed machinegun with a conversion device and ammunition for $700.
Machine gun conversion devices, aka “switches”, shoot automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single pull of the trigger. None of the firearms Rowcroft-Ivy sold to the individual were registered to him and the defendant never possessed a federal firearms license to deal firearms legally.
In total, Rowcroft-Ivy sold two firearms, 13 machinegun conversions devices (“MCDs”), and a silencer to two individuals over the course of 10 days for a total of $12,500.
In March 2025, a federal grand jury indicted Rowcroft-Ivy on three counts of trafficking in firearms, one count of unlicensed dealing in firearms, three counts of illegal possession of machine guns and one count of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Rowcroft-Ivy was placed on pretrial release with conditions that prohibited him from possessing firearms and controlled substances, including marijuana, but rearrested following a search of his residence and vehicle in September 2025.
Law enforcement learned that Rowcroft-Ivy was not living at the address he provided to pretrial services, and that he continued his criminal behavior while on pretrial release. Rowcroft-Ivy’s social media accounts revealed he continued to possess firearms, and advertise firearms and marijuana for sale.
During a search of his residence and vehicle on Sept. 18, 2025, law enforcement found multiple firearms, ammunition, and distribution level quantities of marijuana.
On March 12, 2026, Rowcroft-Ivy pleaded guilty to three counts of trafficking in firearms and one count of illegal possession of a machine gun. At sentencing, the Court also ordered Rowcroft-Ivy to serve three years on supervised release upon completion of his prison sentence.
“The defendant sold over a dozen firearms, including machinegun conversions devices and a 3D printed firearm, putting the Anchorage community at significant risk, as 3D printed firearms are extremely dangerous, increasingly abundant and difficult to track,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “Multiple violations of his pretrial supervision and boasting posts on social media showcased Mr. Rowcroft-Ivy’s complete disregard for the law and accountability of his crimes. The message is simple, if you traffic illegal firearms, switches and ghost guns, you face time in federal prison.”
“The dangerousness of illegal machineguns and machinegun conversion devices cannot be overstated,” said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Seattle Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais. “By distributing these items in bulk quantities, Mr. Rowcroft-Ivy became a direct threat to public safety, putting both law enforcement officers and Alaskans at risk. There will be no refuge for those who traffic these illegal firearms, and we will leverage every available resource to bring them to justice.”
The ATF Seattle Division investigated the case, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration Seattle Field Division and Anchorage Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac Caille Petursson prosecuted the case.
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Former Army soldier pleads guilty to child exploitation crimes committed in Alaska and TexasRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A former Army soldier pleaded guilty today to child exploitation crimes he committed while living in Alaska and Texas, including attempted production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) depicting minors known to him and trafficking of CSAM.
According to court documents, beginning in March 2021, Seth Herrera, 36, previously of El Paso, Texas, started using The Onion Router (TOR) and multiple encrypted and/or privacy-enhancing applications to access, possess, receive and transport CSAM on his cell phones. Herrera would use his phones to browse the dark web, searching for CSAM and use encrypted messaging applications like Telegram and Potato Chat to seek out, access and receive CSAM. He created his own publicly accessible group on one of the platforms where he stored his preferred CSAM files. In six weeks, he uploaded over 100 files to this group.
Across various applications, Herrera participated in hundreds of groups and channels dedicated to CSAM. At the time, the defendant belonged to over 400 Telegram groups and over 1,400 Telegram channels alone. Some groups focused on CSAM involving bestiality, incest and infants/toddlers. Law enforcement seized Herrera’s devices in May 2024 and discovered tens of thousands of CSAM videos and images, depicting sadistic and masochistic content of boys and girls ranging in age from infant through pubescent.
Starting in December 2022, Herrera also used various AI chatbots on Telegram and other websites to create morphed CSAM. In some instances, Herrera would take non-explicit images of children, some known to him personally, and use AI to undress and morph bodies, and make it appear as if they were engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
While fueling his desire for online CSAM, beginning in March 2021, Herrera started taking surreptitious photos and recordings of minors known to him in El Paso, Texas. In December 2022, Herrera captured screenshots of minors via security cameras around his home. In one instance, Herrera used AI chatbots to enhance and improve the quality of an explicit screenshot. In total, Herrera secretly produced at least 28 photos and two videos of one minor from security cameras.
Herrera moved to Alaska in August 2023 and transported all his CSAM files across state lines because they were stored in password protected photo vaults on his phones.
On Aug. 23, 2024, Herrera was arrested at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, where he served as a Specialist, after a federal grand jury indicted him on transportation, receipt and possession of child pornography. On May 14, 2025, a grand jury in the Western District of Texas indicted Herrera on production and receipt of child pornography related to his conduct in El Paso. Herrera entered his plea under a global plea agreement after the Western District of Texas transferred their case to the District of Alaska on June 15, 2026.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 29 and faces between 15 and 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman of the District of Alaska, U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons of the Western District of Texas, Acting Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Seattle Special Agent in Charge April Miller and Special Agent in Charge Michele Starostka of the Army Criminal Investigation Division’s (Army CID) Western Field Office made the announcement.
HSI Seattle and the Army CID investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac Caille Petursson and Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) are prosecuting the case. CEOS Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg and Western District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory J. Rasmussen prosecuted the case in Texas.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
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Former Army Soldier Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation Crimes Committed in Alaska and TexasRead the Press Release
A former Army soldier pleaded guilty today to child exploitation crimes he committed while living in Alaska and Texas, including attempted production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) depicting minors known to him, and trafficking of CSAM.
HerreraAccording to court documents, beginning in March 2021, Seth Herrera, 36, previously of El Paso, Texas, started using The Onion Router (TOR) and multiple encrypted and/or privacy-enhancing applications to access, possess, receive, and transport CSAM on his cell phones. Herrera used these phones to browse the dark web and used encrypted messaging applications to seek out, access and receive CSAM. He created his own publicly accessible group on one of the platforms where he stored his preferred CSAM files. In six weeks, he uploaded over 100 files to this group.
Across various applications, Herrera participated in hundreds of groups and channels dedicated to CSAM. At the time, the defendant belonged to over 400 Telegram groups and over 1,400 Telegram channels alone. Some groups focused on CSAM involving bestiality, incest, and infants/toddlers. Law enforcement seized Herrera’s devices in May 2024 and discovered tens of thousands of CSAM videos and images, depicting sadistic and masochistic content of boys and girls ranging in age from infant through pubescent.
Starting in December 2022, Herrera also used various AI chatbots on Telegram and other websites to create morphed CSAM. In some instances, Herrera would take non-explicit images of children, some known to him personally, and use AI to undress and morph bodies, and make it appear as if they were engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
While fueling his desire for online CSAM, beginning in March 2021, Herrera started taking surreptitious photos and recordings of minors known to him in El Paso, Texas. In December 2022, Herrera captured screenshots of minors via security cameras around his home. In one instance, Herrera used AI chatbots to enhance and improve the quality of an explicit screenshot. In total, Herrera secretly produced at least 28 photos and two videos of one minor from security cameras.
Herrera moved to Alaska in August 2023 and transported all his CSAM files across state lines because they were stored in password-protected photo vaults on his phones.
On Aug. 23, 2024, Herrera was arrested at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, where he served as a Specialist, after a federal grand jury indicted him on transportation, receipt and possession of child pornography. On May 14, 2025, a grand jury in the Western District of Texas indicted Herrera on production and receipt of child pornography related to his conduct in El Paso. Herrera entered his plea under a global plea agreement after the Western District of Texas transferred their case to the District of Alaska on June 15, 2026.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 29 and faces a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska, U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas, Acting Special Agent in Charge April Miller of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Seattle Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Michele Starostka of the Army Criminal Investigation Division’s (ARMY CID) Western Field Office made the announcement.
HSI and Army CID investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac Caille Petursson for the District of Alaska are prosecuting the case. CEOS Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory J. Rasmussen for the Western District of Texas prosecuted the case in Texas.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Anchorage man guilty of attempted coercion and enticement of a minorRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal jury convicted an Anchorage man yesterday for attempting to meet with a child for sexual purposes.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between Aug. 29 and 30, 2025, August Seabrease, 40, used his cell phone to access various social media and messaging applications to chat with what he believed to be a 13-year-old girl. Seabrease turned the conversations sexual, requesting the minor send explicit photos and discussing an in-person meeting for implied sexual purposes.
Throughout the conversation, Seabrease explicitly asked how old the minor was and she stated she was 13. In one message, he acknowledged that he was three times her age. Over the course of two days, Seabrease sent the person he believed to be a minor a photo of his genitalia and incessantly requested photos of the minor through messages. He specified “naughty pics,” “sexy pics,” “fresh pics,” “more pics,” and “right now.”
Seabrease arranged to meet with the minor the following night at a mall in Anchorage. On Aug. 30, 2025, law enforcement observed Seabrease leave his home and drive to the local mall. He circled the mall parking lot several times before parking. Law enforcement contacted him shortly after to arrest him and seized his cell phone.
On Sept. 2, 2025, Seabrease was formally charged by criminal complaint and a federal grand jury indicted him roughly two weeks later. The federal jury found Seabrease guilty of one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor following a two-day trial.
U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska, Special Agent in Charge Matthew Schlegel of the FBI Anchorage Field Office and Special Agent Timothy Weinhold, Air Force Office of Special Investigations Detachment 631 Commander made the announcement.
The FBI Anchorage Field Office and U.S. Department of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mac Caille Petursson and Michelle Delgado are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
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Former Anchorage attorney pleads guilty to drug trafficking crimeRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A former member of the Alaska Bar pleaded guilty today to possessing drugs with intent to distribute in Alaska.
On May 21, 2025, Justin Facey, 46, was arrested after a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging him with drug trafficking and firearm crimes. The indictment against Facey alleged that he used his residence in Anchorage to distribute and use controlled substances, namely fentanyl and methamphetamine, and possessed four firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. He pleaded guilty to one count of possessing drugs with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Court documents explain that Facey was suspended from practicing law on Feb. 24, 2025, following numerous bar complaints. Prior to that, Facey was an Anchorage defense attorney with his own practice.
Facey is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 6, 2026, and faces between 10 to 40 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford of the District of Oregon, Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Saccone of the Drug Enforcement Administration Seattle Field Division and Special Agent in Charge Matthew Schelgel of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska has been recused from this case with the exception of certain personnel. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven D. Clymer from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York has been appointed as Special Attorney to the United States Attorney General to assist with this and other recused cases. He reports to and acts under the direction of the Deputy Attorney General, or his delegee, or Acting U.S. Attorney Narus in these cases. Special Attorney Clymer supervises personnel from the District of Alaska who have been exempted from the recusal.
The DEA Anchorage District Office and FBI Anchorage Field Office, with assistance from the Anchorage Police Department, are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Alexander and Jennifer Ivers are prosecuting the case.
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Philippine national sentenced for stealing identities of U.S. citizens for impersonation on a cruise to AlaskaRead the Press Release
JUNEAU, Alaska – A Philippine national was sentenced yesterday to over four years in prison for stealing the identities of U.S. citizens and using one identity to impersonate a U.S. citizen to board a cruise destined for Alaska.
According to court documents, on May 11, 2025, Enrico Ronquillo, 38, represented that he was a U.S. citizen when he boarded a cruise ship in Seattle. Ronquillo used a U.S. citizen’s name, date of birth and address in his online passenger application for boarding the ship. Cruise ships traveling in international waters are required to maintain accurate passenger manifests for inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Ronquillo is not a U.S. citizen but is a lawful permanent resident.
On May 14, 2025, CBP officers boarded the cruise ship when it arrived in Juneau. A CBP officer searched Ronquillo’s backpack and found two birth certificates and a California driver’s license that appeared to be fraudulent. The fraudulent driver’s license and birth certificate contained the personally identifiable information (PII) of an identity theft victim known to investigators. The victim told investigators he lost his original driver’s license in 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Ronquillo was also carrying a large amount of cash in his pockets and in his backpack. It was later determined that he fraudulently used yet another individual’s credit card information to obtain money while at the ship’s casino.
On June 10, 2025, Ronquillo was indicted by a federal grand jury. On Feb. 19, 2026, he pleaded guilty to one count of false impersonation of a U.S. citizen and one count of aggravated identity theft. In handing down the sentence, the Court also ordered Ronquillo to serve one year on supervised release upon completion of his prison sentence, and to pay over $25,000 in restitution. Ronquillo will be subject to deportation proceedings.
“Mr. Ronquillo knowingly used stolen identities and personal information of innocent U.S. citizens to gain passage on a cruise ship and enrich himself at its casino,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “My office remains committed to protecting U.S. citizens from those who exploit them for personal gain. Identity theft and impersonating a U.S. citizen carry real consequences, including time behind bars.”
“This fraudster stole the identity of a U.S. citizen and impersonated the victim while on board a cruise ship, where he then continued to commit financial fraud crimes on the high seas,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Zachary Pomerantz of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “The FBI is committed to safeguarding Americans from fraud and identity theft schemes, and ensuring that these fraudsters cannot operate with impunity, no matter where they reside or where their crimes are committed.”
“This case highlights the vigilance and dedication of our CBP officers in protecting the integrity of our nation’s borders and travel systems. Identity theft and false impersonation threaten the security of our communities and the trust placed in our processes,” said David A. Salazar CBP Director of Field Operations in San Francisco. “CBP will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to detect, deter, and bring to justice those who attempt to exploit our systems. I commend our officers and all agencies involved for their outstanding work in this investigation.”
The FBI Anchorage Field Office, Juneau Resident Agency, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigated the case, with assistance from the Alaska State Troopers, Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Transportation Security Administration Office of Law Enforcement, Federal Air Marshals Service and the FBI Los Angeles Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
UPDATE: This release has been updated with corrections to the title and FBI quote.
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Juneau man sentenced to 40 years for sexually abusing a minor to produce child pornographyRead the Press Release
JUNEAU, Alaska – A Juneau man was sentenced today to 40 years in prison for sexually abusing a young boy to produce child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) and post the visuals on the dark web.
According to court documents, from March to August 2024, William Steadman, 35, manipulated and groomed a vulnerable 10-year-old boy he had access to in his community. He sexually abused the minor and produced 43 images and 63 videos depicting the abuse. He posted some of these visuals to platforms on the dark web. Steadman bragged about his sexual abuse and manipulation of the minor on the platforms.
Prior to the charged offense, Steadman was previously convicted of possessing child pornography in Alaska state court in 2018, requiring him to register as a sex offender. Following his release from state custody, Steadman began a dark web collection of thousands of visuals depicting child sexual abuse and eventually distributing CSAM he produced of the minor victim. Steadman possessed over 3,300 images and over 1,100 videos of CSAM, representing thousands of additional minor victims.
On Sept. 6, 2024, Steadman was arrested on a criminal complaint in Juneau. Roughly two weeks later, Steadman was indicted by a federal grand jury for his crimes. On March 31, 2025, Steadman pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography. At sentencing, the Court also ordered Steadman to spend the rest of his life on supervised release once he completes his prison sentence. The Court ordered restitution to be determined on a later date. In handing down the sentence, the Court emphasized the defendant’s long track record of recidivism and the need to protect the public from Steadman for a significant amount of time.
“Today’s sentence holds William Steadman accountable for his depraved, sustained, and repeated sexual abuse and production of CSAM with a young child who had been entrusted to his care,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Protection of America’s children and the prosecution of those who abuse and take advantage of them will always be at the forefront of the Criminal Division’s mission.”
“Mr. Steadman’s conduct in this case was evil, and his desire to repeat and escalate his heinous offenses garnered a weighty prison sentence to protect the community from him for as long as possible,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “My office has a phenomenal team of prosecutors dedicated to seeking justice against those who prey on the most vulnerable. Anyone who targets Alaska’s children will be found and held accountable for their perverse crimes.”
“The U.S. Secret Service is unwavering in its commitment to pursue predators who exploit and harm children,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Andrew Forrest of the U.S. Secret Service Criminal Investigative Division. “We will continue to work tirelessly alongside our law enforcement partners to ensure that anyone that commits these vile crimes is held fully accountable and their victims receive the justice they deserve.”
The Secret Service’s Internet Crimes Against Children Team investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mac Caille Petursson and Jack Schmidt, and Trial Attorney McKenzie Hightower of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
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Juneau Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Sexually Abusing a Minor and Producing CSAMRead the Press Release
A Juneau, Alaska, man was sentenced today to 40 years in prison and lifetime supervised release for sexually abusing a young boy, producing child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) depicting the boy, and posting the visuals on the dark web.
According to court documents, from March to August 2024, William Steadman, 35, manipulated and groomed a vulnerable 10-year-old boy he had access to in his community. He sexually abused the minor and produced over 100 images and videos depicting the abuse. He posted some of these visuals to platforms on the dark web where he bragged about his sexual abuse and manipulation of the minor.
“Today’s sentence holds William Steadman accountable for his depraved, sustained, and repeated sexual abuse and production of CSAM with a young child who had been entrusted to his care,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Protection of America’s children and the prosecution of those who abuse and take advantage of them will always be at the forefront of the Criminal Division’s mission.”
“Mr. Steadman’s conduct in this case was evil, and his desire to repeat and escalate his heinous offenses garnered a weighty prison sentence to protect the community from him for as long as possible,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “My office has a phenomenal team of prosecutors dedicated to seeking justice against those who prey on the most vulnerable. Anyone who targets Alaska’s children will be found and held accountable for their perverse crimes.”
“The U.S. Secret Service (USSS) is unwavering in its commitment to pursue predators who exploit and harm children,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Andrew Forrest of the USSS Criminal Investigative Division. “We will continue to work tirelessly alongside our law enforcement partners to ensure that anyone that commits these vile crimes is held fully accountable and their victims receive the justice they deserve.”
Prior to the charged offense, Steadman was previously convicted of possessing child pornography in Alaska state court in 2018, requiring him to register as a sex offender. Following his release from state custody, Steadman began amassing a collection of CSAM that included 3,300 images and over 1,100 videos of CSAM, representing thousands of additional minor victims.
On Sept. 6, 2024, Steadman was arrested on a criminal complaint in Juneau. Roughly two weeks later, Steadman was indicted by a federal grand jury for his crimes. On March 31, 2025, Steadman pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography.
The USSS’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigated the case.
Trial Attorney McKenzie Hightower of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac Caille Petursson for the District of Alaska prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Wasilla doctor sentenced to three years for possessing child pornographyRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Wasilla neurologist was sentenced today to 3.4 years in prison for possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, law enforcement became aware of Jeffrey Sponsler, 68, in February 2025, when another individual saw him masturbating to a video of two nude children being played from a laptop. Based on that information and after obtaining a warrant, law enforcement searched Sponsler’s home for electronics and other evidence of child exploitation.
During the search, law enforcement discovered dozens of electronics throughout the house, including desktop computers, laptops, external hard drives, memory cards, DVDs and even VHS tapes. He also possessed copies of several books depicting nude children and very young adults.
Forensic review of his devices revealed an extensive collection of CSAM. Sponsler ordered videos and pictures of nudist and naturist communities abroad. He then used his computer to edit images from the videos to create his own videos and slideshows of CSAM focused on girls roughly 7 to 12 years old. He edited photos by zooming in on young girls’ genitalia. He saved the edits and put them into a PowerPoint presentation, and creating slideshows of exclusively children’s genitalia.
Sponsler’s unique method of collecting CSAM makes it difficult to calculate exactly how many images and videos he possessed. One external hard drive contained about 59,000 images and videos of nude minors. Among those, there were at least 110 images and 18 videos that Sponsler cropped himself to create CSAM, totaling at least 1,500 CSAM images defined by the sentencing guidelines.
Prior to his arrest, Sponsler was a practicing neurologist and owned his own clinic, Alaska Brain Center. He also owned Alaska Music and Arts, a karate, music and dance studio.
On May 21, 2025, Sponsler was indicted by a federal grand jury and subsequently arrested. On March 5, 2026, Sponsler pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. During sentencing, the Court also ordered Sponsler to pay a $20,000 fine and serve 15 years on supervised release following completion of his federal prison sentence.
“Mr. Sponsler meticulously curated his collection of CSAM to feed his fixation of children and was able to fly under the radar of law enforcement for many years due to his unique collection methods,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “Thankfully, a concerned member of the community reported Sponsler’s behavior and he will no longer live as a wolf in sheep’s clothing, fronting as a trusted member of the community and professional, while sexualizing children from behind closed doors at day’s end.”
“Sponsler portrayed himself as a trusted member of our community, when in reality, he had been viewing, organizing, and collecting a disturbing amount of CSAM for his own perverse gratification,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Schlegel of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Our children are safer now thanks to a concerned citizen who reported Sponsler’s crimes to the FBI. This sentencing reinforces the message that sexual exploitation crimes against children will not be tolerated by our community, the FBI, and our dedicated law enforcement partners.”
The FBI Anchorage Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Alaska State Troopers.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Ivers prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
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Wainwright man sentenced to 16 years for sexually exploiting minors to produce, receive child pornographyRead the Press Release
FAIRBANKS, Alaska – A Wainwright man was sentenced today to over 16 years in prison for sexually exploiting multiple minor victims to produce and receive child pornography.
According to court documents, on Oct. 22, 2024, the North Slope Borough Police Department received a report from a 15-year-old minor victim about Robert Segevan, 32. The minor victim reported that Segevan requested sexually explicit pictures on Snapchat. Throughout the course of the investigation, four other minor victims came forward, ranging from 11 to 13 years old. The victims reported that anytime they attempted to block him, Segevan would create a new account and continue to ask for explicit pictures.
Law enforcement obtained search warrants for Segevan’s accounts. The warrants revealed that between August and October 2024, Segevan contacted multiple females suspected to be minors asking for sexually explicit images. Law enforcement seized multiple devices and found 62 images and 21 videos that depicted child sexual abuse with some victims as young as five years old.
On July 30, 2026, Segevan was arrested after being charged by criminal complaint and was formally indicted by a federal grand jury roughly one month later. On March 6, 2026, Segevan pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a child: attempted production of child pornography, one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and one count of receipt of child pornography.
At sentencing, the Court ordered Segevan to serve 15 years on supervised release upon completion of his prison sentence. In handing down the sentence, the Court emphasized the need to protect Segevan’s community from his predatory behavior.
“Mr. Segevan persistently targeted minors known to him, going as far as creating new digital accounts when the minors blocked him over and over again for his sick conduct,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “I want to commend the courageous victims who came forward to disclose Segevan’s crimes and our law enforcement partners that ultimately stopped his perverse pattern of behavior. We must work together to protect Alaska’s children.”
“Segevan’s child exploitation crimes against multiple young victims were deliberate, predatory, and have no place in our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Schlegel of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “The FBI and our partners remain steadfast in our commitment to protect our most vulnerable, identify offenders, and secure justice for victims of these atrocious crimes.”
“The North Slope Borough Police Department is dedicated to protecting our communities and ensuring that those who target and exploit our youth are held fully accountable,” said Deputy Chief Phillip Brymer of the North Slope Borough Police Department. “This case highlights the vital importance of our local investigators working hand-in-hand with federal partners like the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. We hope this sentencing brings a sense of justice and closure to the victims and their families.”
The FBI Anchorage Field Office and North Slope Borough Police Department are investigating the case, with assistance from Anchorage Police Department as part of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carly Vosacek and Ibad Jafri prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
UPDATE: This release has been updated to include a quote from the North Slope Borough Police Department.
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Chickaloon man sentenced to prison for COVID-19 fraud conspiracyRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Chickaloon man was sentenced yesterday to two years in prison for orchestrating a scheme to defraud the U.S. government of COVID-19 relief funds.
According to court documents, Christopher Staggs, aka “Chrisopher Blackburn,” 44, fraudulently obtained over $170,000 through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The CARES and ARPA Acts included the Paycheck Protection Loan Program (PPP) and the temporary Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, which provided temporary benefits to individuals who lost work because of the pandemic. Staggs defrauded both programs during the criminal scheme and related offense conduct.
Shortly following the passing of the CARES Act in 2020, Staggs began using his Chicago-based LLC, “ABN Circle,” as a front to file false and fraudulent unemployment insurance applications in Alaska and other states. Staggs harvested personally identifiable information (PII) from individuals who were either completely unaware or believed Staggs was assisting them in applying for unemployment benefits.
Staggs would receive the payments for each individual’s unemployment insurance. Staggs then paid some of these individuals a fraction of the unlawful proceeds he received in their name, while others had their identity stolen and received no proceeds. Staggs then split the remaining proceeds between him and his co-conspirators.
The investigation revealed a spreadsheet that laid out the scheme in detail; including the names used to file the false applications; his victims’ social security numbers; usernames and passwords associated with accounts used to file the false applications; and the total amount of laundered proceeds. Law enforcement also discovered detailed emails he sent to his co-conspirators explaining both the spreadsheet and the nature of the scheme.
On July 18, 2024, Staggs and co-defendant Zeb Bewak, 42, of Anchorage, were indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Staggs was also indicted on eight counts of wire fraud, and Bewak was also indicted on even counts of wire fraud. On Feb. 18, 2026, Staggs pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and on March 6, 2025, Bewak pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Bewak is scheduled to be sentenced on June 15, 2026.
At sentencing, the Court also ordered Staggs to serve three years on supervised release following completion of his prison sentence. The Court ordered restitution to be determined at a later date.
“For years, Mr. Staggs used his intelligence to defraud people and systems, as well as avoid accountability. He saw the global pandemic as an avenue to continue that thirst, facilitating a grubby scheme upon the government that also victimized the very people the victim-programs were intended to assist,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “This kind of manipulation is unacceptable. My office is committed to using every available resource, like the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, to neutralize threats to the American purse.”
“In the wake of a global health crisis, Mr. Staggs and his co-conspirators selfishly exploited taxpayer-funded programs to line their own pockets, diverting resources away from those in need,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Schlegel of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Together with our partners, the FBI will aggressively investigate and hold accountable anyone who seeks to abuse government programs for personal gain.”
The FBI Anchorage Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the State of Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander prosecuted the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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Member of local drug trafficking organization sentenced to 10 years for distributing drugs in Homeland Security Task Force caseRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage man was sentenced today to 10.8 years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to traffic deadly drugs to Alaska and into the Anchorage community.
According to court documents, Andrew Akulaw, 42, conspired with co-defendant, Rodney Godwin, 52, the leader of the drug trafficking organization. From April to December 2023, Godwin organized and operated a drug trafficking organization while under indictment for a separate drug trafficking crime. Godwin’s organization imported and distributed over 3.8 kilograms of fentanyl, 1.8 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1.6 kilograms of cocaine and 1.3 kilograms of heroin within Alaska.
Court documents detail that Akulaw’s role in the conspiracy was to receive large shipments of drugs in the mail and through air cargo, as well as collect outstanding drug proceeds. Law enforcement learned of Akulaw’s involvement in the drug trafficking organization on Sept. 5, 2023, when Akulaw got into a car accident. At the scene of the accident, first responders discovered a firearm in Akulaw’s pocket, a fanny pack with a large amount of drug proceeds, and an Arizona driver’s license for another individual. Law enforcement had to use a fingerprint scanner to identify Akulaw. In doing so, law enforcement learned that Akulaw had two active State of Alaska arrest warrants.
At the hospital after the accident, Akulaw directed his fanny pack be given to a co-conspirator. Officers seized the fanny pack and through a search warrant, found almost thirty thousand dollars.
Throughout the investigation, law enforcement attributed over 3.7 kilograms of drugs directly to Akulaw.
On May 23, 2024, Akulaw and seven co-defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury in this matter. On Nov. 18, 2025, Akulaw pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and also pleaded guilty to a felon in possession of a firearm in a separate federal case.
“Mr. Akulaw has spent decades committing violent crimes and violating supervision, ultimately turning to distributing deadly drugs in his own community,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “Poisonous drugs have no place in our state, and we will not stop fighting the threat illegal narcotics pose to Alaskan communities. Working with our law enforcement partners to find those who traffic them and dismantle their operations remains a top priority for my office and the U.S. Department of Justice.”
“Akulaw not only facilitated the flow of deadly drugs into and throughout Alaska, but also the collection and enforcement of drug debts to sustain its operations,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Schlegel of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Thanks to the tenacious work by the investigative team, another dangerous member of this drug trafficking organization has been brought to justice. The FBI will continue working with our partners, at every level, to ensure drug traffickers are held accountable and removed from our streets.”
Co-defendants in this case include:
- Rodney Godwin, of Anchorage, pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in a continue criminal enterprise on May 10, 2025, and was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Nov. 24, 2025, which will run consecutively to a previous 20-year federal drug trafficking sentence.
- Calvin Oktollik, 39, of Anchorage, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on July 28, 2025, and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 14, 2026.
- Miles Apatiki, 39, of Anchorage, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy on Jan. 6, 2026, and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 23, 2026
- Jennifer Godwin, 41, of Anchorage, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on July 11, 2025, and was sentenced to three years in prison on May 6, 2026.
- Reigna Archuleta, 40, of Anchorage, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and one count of carrying firearms during a drug trafficking crime on Dec. 19, 2025, and will be sentenced at a later date.
- David Henry, 52, of Palmer, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Dec. 4, 2025, and was sentenced to 6.6 years in prison on April 16, 2026.
- Page Peak, 27, of Sterling, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on July 30, 2025, and was sentenced to five years’ probation on March 3, 2026.
The FBI Anchorage Field Office and Anchorage Police Department investigated the case as part of the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Anchorage Domicile, IRS Criminal Investigation, Alaska State Troopers and U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth Beausang and Mandy Mackenzie prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Region One comprises agents and officers from Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations – Seattle; the United States Attorney’s Office(s) for the Districts of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Eastern Washington, and Western Washington; the Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP); CBP – Office of Field Operations; CBP – Air & Marine Operations; U.S. Border Patrol; U.S. Coast Guard, Coast Guard Investigative Service; and Transportation Security Administration, Law Enforcement/Federal Air Marshal Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska.
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Anchorage man sentenced to 5 years for receiving child pornography and possessing AI-generated images depicting child sexual abuseRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage man was sentenced today to 5.8 years in prison for receiving child pornography, as well as creating artificial intelligence (AI) generated images depicting the sexual abuse of minors.
According to court documents, on Aug. 13, 2024, Anthaney O’Connor, 32, contacted law enforcement to report an active-duty airman’s sexual interest in minor children. O’Connor met this person, Caleb French, 28, on an online dating platform. O’Connor provided law enforcement with two images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) French sent him that depicted prepubescent children. He also provided law enforcement with several text messages between him and French where they discussed viewing CSAM together.
The text messages prompted law enforcement to request a full search of O’Connor’s cell phone, where they found messages claiming he could create virtual reality (VR) point of view (POV) CSAM using images of real children that French took in his community. Law enforcement also recovered more CSAM on his cellphone, including six AI/cartoon drawings depicting children.
On Dec. 19, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant on O’Connor’s residence to recover multiple digital devices. Law enforcement recovered an additional 20 images of CSAM from those devices, some of which were AI generated or depicted prepubescent children. In total O’Connor possessed 32 images and three videos containing CSAM.
On Jan. 21, 2025, O’Connor was indicted on one count of distribution of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. On July 31, 2025, O’Connor pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography.
During sentencing, the Court ordered O’Connor to serve 20 years on supervised release following the completion of his custodial sentence, as well as a $35,000 special assessment. In handing down the sentence, the Court emphasized the defendant’s significant criminal history and that the CSAM industry is consumer driven, highlighting the need for general deterrence so the public understands that possessing or receiving any sort of CSAM could result in serious federal penalties.
“Anthaney O’Connor not only received, consumed, and distributed depraved images depicting sexual abuse of young children, but actively collaborated to view the material in virtual reality,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “He boasted about his ability to generate virtual reality simulations using images of real children. Some of the material he possessed was generated by sophisticated artificial intelligence tools. AI used in this criminal manner adds a new element to child sexual abuse crimes. The Criminal Division is already at the cutting edge to curb this dangerous avenue for child sexual abuse.”
“Possessing and exchanging CSAM, including AI-generated images of children, is an abhorrent crime,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “Protecting children and dismantling this predatory industry is a top priority for my office, and Mr. O’Connor is another example of our aggressive efforts to stop such disgusting conduct. Let this serve as a clear reminder that we will relentlessly pursue anyone who endangers children, period.”
“Protecting our children from the depraved actions of individuals like O’Connor is a top priority for the FBI and our law enforcement partners,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Schlegel of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “O’Connor’s possession of real as well as AI-generated CSAM is alarming, abhorrent and will never be tolerated. The FBI will continue working aggressively with our partners to make sure those who harm our most vulnerable are held accountable for their crimes.”
French was charged with one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography through a separate case. On May 20, 2025, French pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography, and on Oct. 15, 2025, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 20 years on supervised release once his prison sentence is complete.
The FBI Anchorage Field Office and United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) investigated the case.
District of Alaska Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac Caille Petersson and Trial Attorney McKenzie Hightower of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (“CEOS”) prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
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Alaska Man Who Received Images of Child Pornography and Possessed AI-Generated Images of Child Sexual Abuse Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
An Alaskan man was sentenced today to 70 months in prison and 20 years of supervised release for trafficking in child pornography, including images of pre-pubescent children.
Anthaney O’Connor, 32, of Anchorage, pleaded guilty on July 31, 2025, to receipt of child pornography, also known as child sexual abuse material or “CSAM.” According to court documents, O’Connor received CSAM from another offender, who was an active-duty Airman stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The CSAM included images depicting prepubescent children. The two of them also planned to view CSAM together using a virtual reality system. In stored messages with this other offender, O’Connor explained that he could use images of real children and make them sexually explicit for use in this system, so that the user could experience a virtual simulation of what the images depicted. O’Connor also distributed CSAM to other individuals and possessed multiple images of obscene visual depictions of child sexual abuse of children that were created by artificial intelligence.
“Anthaney O’Connor not only received, consumed, and distributed depraved images depicting sexual abuse of young children, but actively collaborated to view the material in virtual reality,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “He boasted about his ability to generate virtual reality simulations using images of real children. Some of the material he possessed was generated by sophisticated artificial intelligence tools. AI used in this criminal manner adds a new element to child sexual abuse crimes. The Criminal Division is already at the cutting edge to curb this dangerous avenue for child sexual abuse.”
“Possessing and exchanging CSAM, including AI-generated images of children, is an abhorrent crime,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “Protecting children and dismantling this predatory industry is a top priority for my office, and Mr. O’Connor is another example of our aggressive efforts to stop such disgusting conduct. Let this serve as a clear reminder that we will relentlessly pursue anyone who endangers children, period.”
“Protecting our children from the depraved actions of individuals like O’Connor is a top priority for the FBI and our law enforcement partners,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Schlegel of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “O’Connor’s possession of real as well as AI-generated CSAM is alarming, abhorrent and will never be tolerated. The FBI will continue working aggressively with our partners to make sure those who harm our most vulnerable are held accountable for their crimes.”
The FBI and United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) investigated the case.
Trial Attorney McKenzie Hightower of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac Caille Petursson of the District of Alaska prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Pennsylvania man pleads guilty, receives prison time for 2022 PFD fraud schemeRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Pennsylvania man pleaded guilty to and was sentenced Tuesday to a year and a half in prison for committing wire fraud through a 2022 Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) fraud scheme.
According to court documents, between January and February 2022, Adepoju Babatunde Salako, 33, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, devised a scheme to defraud the Alaska Department of Revenue (DOR) PFD program. Specifically, Salako fraudulently obtained the personal identifying information (PII) for legitimate Alaskan residents and submitted seven separate applications to the Alaska DOR to obtain their PFD funds. Salako was never an Alaskan resident and had never traveled to Alaska up until his arrival in the state for his sentencing in this matter.
Court documents detail that Salako created new email accounts that he controlled for each legitimate Alaska resident whose PII he fraudulently obtained. Using the PII, Salako gained control of at least seven already established “myAlaska” online accounts—the platform Alaska residents use to apply for the PFD. Once inside the accounts, Salako changed the account information to route communications from “myAlaska” directly to the email accounts he controlled for each individual. Salako also changed each applicant’s bank information to route the PFD payments to bank accounts he controlled.
Court documents further explain that Salako tried to shield his identity and location by using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to appear as though six of the seven application submissions were submitted from an Internet Protocol (IP) address in Alaska. The other application was submitted using an IP address in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Records from Salako’s personal email account showed logins from the same Philadelphia IP address.
The State of Alaska determined the applications to be fraudulent and denied the applications. In 2022, the DOR, which administers the PFD program, paid $3,284.00 to each eligible PFD applicant. But for the DOR’s diligent review of PFD applications, Mr. Salako would have successfully defrauded the State of Alaska and the seven identity theft victims of $22,988.00
Salako pleaded guilty to seven counts of wire fraud. Salako’s prison sentence will run concurrent to a related COVID relief fund and international money laundering case in the District of Colorado, in which he was sentenced to six and a half years in prison and ordered to pay $2.5 million in restitution to the victims of his crimes.
“Mr. Salako spent considerable time planning and perpetrating his scheme to defraud the Alaska PFD,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “Thanks to the great work of the Alaska Department of Revenue and FBI, he didn’t succeed; but even attempting to defraud the PFD will not be tolerated and could result in federal prison.”
“The Alaska PFD program is intended to benefit current and future generations of eligible Alaskans, not criminals like Salako who seek to exploit the program through fraud and identity theft,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Schlegel of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Despite efforts to mask his identity, Salako was identified through strong program safeguards and diligent investigative work in partnership with the Alaska Department of Revenue. This sentence reflects our commitment to safeguarding the integrity of government programs and holding fraudsters accountable for their crimes, regardless of where they reside.”
“This case should send a clear message that stealing an identity to exploit the Permanent Fund Dividend will not be tolerated,” said Department Investigations Manager Scott Stair of the State of Alaska Department of Revenue, Criminal Investigations Unit. "The Department of Revenue remains committed to protecting Alaskans from financial fraud and holding accountable anyone who seeks to profit though deception.”
The FBI Anchorage Field Office and State of Alaska Department of Revenue, Criminal Investigations Unit investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ainsley McNerney prosecuted the case.
If you suspect you've been a victim of PFD fraud, contact the Alaska Department of Revenue, Criminal Investigations Unit. Online Fraud Tips can be filed at https://pfd.alaska.gov/fraud-tip-form. You can also contact the Fraud Hotline: (907) 500-0360.
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Canadian man arrested by international authorities, charged with administrating KimWolf DDoS botnetRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A criminal complaint was unsealed in the District of Alaska today charging a Canadian man with operating the KimWolf Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Internet of Things (IoT) botnet. The U.S. complaint was unsealed following the defendant’s arrest in Canada by Canadian authorities.
According to court documents, on April 10, 2026, U.S. authorities criminally charged Jacob Butler, aka “Dort,” 23, of Ottawa, Canada, with offenses related to the development and operation of the KimWolf botnet. KimWolf was a DDoS-for-hire service which infected over a million devices worldwide, including devices located in Alaska. The complaint remained sealed pending Butler’s arrest.
Following coordination with the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Butler was taken into custody yesterday in Ottawa, Canada, pursuant to an extradition warrant.
In March 2026, U.S. authorities, in partnership with international law enforcement partners, conducted a court-authorized law enforcement operation to seize Command and Control (C2) infrastructure used by the Aisuru, KimWolf, JackSkid and Mossad IoT botnets.
According to court documents, KimWolf targeted infected devices which were traditionally “firewalled” from the rest of the internet, such as digital photo frames and web cameras. The infected devices were enslaved by the botnet operators. The operators then used a “cybercrime as a service” model to sell access to the infected devices to other cybercriminals. The operators and their customers forced the victim devices to participate in DDoS attacks, targeting computers and servers located throughout the world, including Department of Defense Information Network (DoDIN) IP addresses.
KimWolf was tied to DDoS attacks which were measured at nearly 30 Terabits per second, a record in recorded DDoS attack volume. These attacks resulted in financial losses which, for some victims, exceeded one million dollars. The KimWolf botnet is alleged to have issued over 25,000 attack commands.
Law enforcement allegedly connected Butler to the administration of the KimWolf botnet through IP address, online account information, transaction records, and online messaging application records obtained through the issuance of legal process.
In addition to Butler’s arrest, the Central District of California unsealed seizure warrants which targeted online services supporting 45 DDoS-for-hire platforms. These seizures broadly disrupted the DDoS platforms, including at least one that collaborated with Butler’s KimWolf botnet. U.S. authorities also seized domain records associated with many of these services, redirecting them to an authorized “splash page,” which displays a warning to potential visitors that DDoS services are illegal.
Butler is charged with one count of aiding and abetting computer intrusion. If convicted, Butler faces up to 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Kenneth DeChellis of the DCIS Cyber Field Office made the announcement.
DCIS is investigating the case, with assistance from the FBI Anchorage Field Office. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California handled the recent infrastructure seizures.
International partners in this investigation included the Ontario Provincial Police, Sûreté du Québec, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and German Bundeskriminalamt (BKA).
Additionally, the U.S. Justice Department thanks Akamai, Amazon Web Services, Cloudflare, DigitalOcean, Epieos, Google, Hydrolix, Lumen, Nokia, Oracle, PayPal, Registrar of Last Resort, Salesforce Counter-Threat Ops, The Shadowserver Foundation, Sony Interactive Entertainment, SpyCloud, Synthient, Team Cymru, Unit 221B, XLAB and EUROPOL’s PowerOFF team for their assistance provided during this investigation and operation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander is prosecuting the case.
If anyone has information on the alleged threats or other DDoS threats, please contact U.S. authorities at [email protected].
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Wasilla men sentenced for running illegal guide-outfitter out of KodiakRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Two Wasilla men were sentenced Tuesday for running an illegal guide-outfitter business out of Kodiak that resulted in the harvest of Sitka black-tailed deer and black bears in violation of the Lacey Act. One defendant received a six-month prison sentence and $20,000 fine for a felony conviction, and the other received a four-year probationary sentence and $30,000 fine for a misdemeanor conviction.
According to court documents, in March 2021, Theodore Turgeon, 29, and his co-defendant, Charles Emmi, 29, created a business called “The Rock Outfitters LLC” to provide “coastal and great lakes passenger transportation.” Turgeon and Emmi attempted to obtain a transporter license from the Alaska Department of Commerce Big Game Commercial Services Board but were denied because of Turgeon’s 2018 federal conviction for violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
In June 2022, within months of the Big Game Board’s denial, Emmi obtained a transporter license under the guise of a new business, “The Rock Kodiak,” which did not list Turgeon as an owner. Emmi and Turgeon also jointly owned a boat, the M/V Sound Choice, that they used to facilitate the illegal guide service. Neither defendant ever held a big game guide-outfitter license in the State of Alaska.
On Nov. 9, 2022, Turgeon and Emmi collected $16,000 from a four-person hunting party to provide transporter services to hunt waterfowl and Sitka black-tailed deer out of Kodiak. This trip took place sometime between Nov. 17 and 22, 2022.
During the trip, Turgeon illegally provided one client, who was a resident of Texas, with guide services when he outfitted the client with his personal rifle, sighted the scope on his rifle, accompanied the client into the field and spotted two deer for the client. Turgeon further assisted the client in the field with quartering and packing the doe and buck out of the field, all in violation of Alaska law. Turgeon and Emmi transported this client to port, and the client took the harvested meat and other animal parts to Texas.
United States Attorney's Office, District of Alaska; U.S. v. Emmi et al., Case #: 3:25-cr-00038In addition to illegal guiding on this trip, Emmi and Turgeon also submitted false records to the Big Game Board. Alaska law requires transporters to submit a Transporter Activity Report (TAR) to the Big Game Board. A TAR documents who was transported, to where, and what type of game and weight was harvested. The TAR that they submitted for the November 2022 hunt listed only two of the four transported clients and under-reported the harvested game by at least two deer.
In May 2024, Emmi and Turgeon contracted with three clients, who were residents of Arizona, South Carolina and Oregon, and collected $13,500 from the clients to provide transportation services out of Cordova to hunt black bear. Emmi and Turgeon illegally guided all three clients by assisting with spotting black bear from the M/V Sound Choice, directing the clients where to offload from the skiff and stalk black bear, and remaining in the field. All three clients successfully harvested black bear with Emmi and Turgeon’s illegal guiding services.
United States Attorney's Office, District of Alaska; U.S. v. Emmi et al., Case #: 3:25-cr-00038 United States Attorney's Office, District of Alaska; U.S. v. Emmi et al., Case #: 3:25-cr-00038During the May 2024 trip, Turgeon admitted to clients that he illegally guided them during the hunt, and stated, “f[***] the State of Alaska’s regulations.”
On Dec. 9, 2026, Emmi pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor counts of Lacey Act violations, commercial activity in illegally taken wildlife and Turgeon pleaded guilty to four felony counts of Lacey Act violations, commercial activity in illegally taken wildlife.
Turgeon’s full sentence, as handed down by the Court, is as follows:
- Six months in federal prison;
- Three years on supervised release following his prison sentence;
- $20,000 fine;
- Forfeit $14,982.61 in lieu of forfeiting the M/V Sound Choice and forfeit the rifle and scope used in November 2022 illegal hunt;
- And a worldwide hunting and fishing ban, and barred from obtaining a transporter or guide license for his period of supervised release.
Emmi’s full sentence, as handed down by the Court, is as follows:
- Four years on federal probation;
- $30,000 fine;
- Forfeit $14,982.61 in lieu of forfeiting the M/V Sound Choice;
- 100 hours of community service;
- And a worldwide hunting and fishing ban, barred from obtaining a transporter or guide license for his period of probation.
In handing down the sentence the Court emphasized the importance of abiding by State of Alaska’s wildlife regulations to safeguard the wildlife population for the enjoyment of future generations.
“Mr. Turgeon expressed complete disdain and blatantly disregarded the laws protecting our natural resources,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “Guide outfitting is an important part of Alaska’s outdoor community and ensuring it is done lawfully to protect future resources is paramount. This case should serve as a reminder that committing Lacey Act violations in Alaska could result in federal criminal convictions and hefty penalties.”
“The Lacey Act is critical to protecting America's wildlife resources from exploitation and depletion,” said Assistant Director Doug Ault, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement. “Illegal guided hunts threaten Alaska's natural resources and disadvantage ethical hunters and guides who operate lawfully. This sentencing sends a clear message that those who violate federal wildlife laws will be held accountable.”
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ainsley McNerney prosecuted the case.
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St. Mary’s man sentenced to 3 years for illegal wildlife guiding schemeRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A St. Mary’s man was sentenced last week to three years in prison and is required to pay over $64,000 in restitution for running illegal guiding services and collecting thousands in fraudulent proceeds from the scheme.
According to court documents, in October 2021, Michael Beans, 36, began openly advertising guide-outfitter and transporter services for the 2022, 2023 and 2024 bull moose hunting seasons on specific social media hunting forums. At all times relevant to the case, Beans was not licensed by the state of Alaska as a big game guide-outfitter nor transporter.
Beans contacted prospective hunters by text, phone or social media messaging platform, and communicated that he would reduce the hunting rates if hunters paid in full early or assisted Beans by advancing fees months before the hunt occurred. In some messages, Beans conveyed costs of the hunt and then received deposits to formalize the booking through mobile money transferring applications or other electronic financial services.
Between October 2021 to December 2022, Beans fraudulently collected more than $59,000 in deposits, advanced payments and other funds from roughly 37 non-Alaska resident hunters for guide-outfitted and/or big game transporter services for bull moose hunts when not licensed to do so by the state of Alaska.
On Sept. 1, 2022, the first group of hunters arrived in St. Mary’s from across the country. Beans cancelled all contracted hunts without meeting any of the hunters in person. Beans did not refund any hunters for the cancelled hunts, except for $700 returned to one hunter.
From Sept. 19 to Sept. 24, 2022, three hunters arrived in St. Mary’s to hunt with Beans. The defendant tried to cancel the hunt, but the hunters located Beans in St. Mary’s and he took them on the hunt consistent with their agreement. Acting as the guide-outfitter or transporter, Beans assisted the hunters in killing three bull moose, even though he was not licensed to do so.
On Oct. 1, 2024, Beans pleaded guilty to one count of Lacey Act violations and one count of wire fraud. In handing down the sentence, the Court also ordered Beans to serve three years on supervised release upon completion of his prison sentence. Beans is also required to pay $64,110 in restitution that will be broken out to each victim in this case.
“Mr. Beans egregiously exploited unsuspecting hunters and orchestrated a hunt that resulted in the illegal killing of three bull moose,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “His actions not only violate the law but are also an affront to the law-abiding guide-outfitters who respect Alaska’s wildlife community. My office is committed to working with our law enforcement partners statewide to ensure that the regulations governing hunting in Alaska are enforced and upheld, and those who flagrantly violate them are brought to justice.”
“Alaska's guide and transporter licensing requirements exist to protect wildlife resources, ensure lawful hunting practices, and maintain a level playing field for licensed operators who follow the law," said Assistant Director Doug Ault, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement. "Illegal guided hunts for bull moose and other species undermine those safeguards and threaten public trust in Alaska's world-renowned hunting system. In this case, Mr. Beans not only operated without proper licensure but also deceived dozens of hunters, collecting substantial payments for hunts he largely failed to deliver and leaving many victims without refunds. This sentencing reflects our commitment to aggressively investigating wildlife crimes and holding violators accountable.”
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services and the Alaska Wildlife Troopers investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ainsley McNerney prosecuted the case.
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Leader of Alaska drug trafficking organization sentenced to 15 years in Homeland Security Task Force caseRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A California man that acted as the leader for an Alaska drug trafficking organization was sentenced yesterday to 15 years in prison for his role in the illegal enterprise.
According to court documents, in Spring 2022, Tyrone Hampton, 44, moved his pregnant wife and co-defendant, Stephanie Blanchard, 39, and two other associates from Southern California to Alaska to participate in the drug trafficking trade. The two associates were co-defendants Keith Crossley, 37, and Lawrence McGirt, 27. All three men were gang members in Southern California.
Upon arrival in Alaska, Hampton and his co-conspirators began selling illegal drugs, primarily heroin and fentanyl. One of the locations Hampton used for drug trafficking was an apartment in Wasilla. On April 12, 2022, the landlord of the apartment called law enforcement to trespass multiple people frequenting the apartment.
Hampton’s main drug supplier was codefendant Kevyn Watson, 43, a fellow gang member from California. At the time, Watson was serving a 40-year prison sentence in prison in Oklahoma. He had access to multiple contraband cellphones in prison. Watson used the phones to coordinate continued drug trafficking using his associates in California. Hampton and Watson coordinated the shipment of multiple packages of drugs to Alaska through the mail.
At some point in April 2022, Hampton’s cousin and co-defendant, Charles Holyfield, 41, of Arizona, reached out to Hampton about a debt that Hampton owed him. During that conversation, the two men agreed to have Holyfield mail illegal fentanyl pills from a supplier in Arizona to Alaska to be sold for a high profit and split the proceeds together. On April 25, Holyfield mailed over 2,500 fentanyl pills by stuffing them inside one of two pillows and packaging the pillows up in a box and addressing it to the Wasilla apartment building. Hampton directed Blanchard to send Holyfield $2,000 via wire transfer for the cost of the pills.
The next day, UPS attempted to deliver Holyfield’s package to the apartment in Wasilla but could not because there was no apartment number written on the label. UPS marked the package as “suspicious.” They searched the package, found fentanyl pills and alerted the Alaska State Troopers. This same day, Hampton directed Holyfield to board a flight to Alaska and Hampton picked him up from the airport. Hampton, Holyfield and Blanchard spent a night in a local motel.
United States Attorney's Office, District of Alaska; U.S. v. Holyfield et al., Case #: 3:22-cr-00084On April 27, Hampton, Blanchard and Holyfield drove from the motel to the Wasilla apartment and realized the package had not arrived yet. What the defendants didn’t know is the Alaska State Troopers (AST) had seized the drugs, resealed the package with sham drugs and obtained a state search warrant for the Wasilla apartment.
That same day, AST conducted a controlled delivery of the package and waited until Hampton, Holyfield, McGirt and Crossley returned to the building to execute the warrant and arrest them. Troopers recovered the package inside a closet and found evidence of a makeshift methamphetamine lab in the apartment.
On April 28, UPS notified AST that they received another suspicious package destined for the Wasilla apartment. Inside the package, AST found a tupperware container with one kilogram of heroin wrapped in six levels of packaging. Through the investigation, law enforcement determined that Watson and Hampton coordinated the shipment of this package, referring to the one kilogram of heroin as “the whole chalupa” in text messages. Hampton directed Keith Crossley and Lawrence McGirt to each transfer $2,500 in drug proceeds via wire transfer to two individuals in California as partial payment to Watson for the shipment of heroin.
United States Attorney's Office, District of Alaska; U.S. v. Holyfield et al., Case #: 3:22-cr-00084Court documents explain that in just over six weeks, Hampton deposited over $26,900 into his bank account through Cash App or ATM deposits. Extrapolated out over a year, Hampton was earning more than $228,000 a year dealing drugs in Alaska. He had no other legitimate source of income.
On June 20, 2025, Hampton pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of money laundering conspiracy. During sentencing, the Court also ordered Hampton to spend 10 years on supervised release after serving his federal prison sentence. In handing down the sentence, the Court emphasized that Hampton was motived by profit and preyed upon vulnerabilities to distribute fentanyl into Alaska. The Court also focused on Hampton’s characterization as a career offender that spent his life offending and hurting people and the communities he lived in.
“Mr. Hampton is a career criminal that moved his family and friends to Alaska for the sole purpose of peddling poison to our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “With no legitimate source or income, an extensive criminal history, gang membership, and a propensity to seek out crime, Mr. Hampton poses a significant risk to community safety. Communities in both Alaska and California are safer knowing that this defendant will be behind bars for the next 15 years.”
“Hampton led a multi-state fentanyl and heroin trafficking conspiracy, recklessly endangering countless lives in Alaska and in the Lower 48,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Schlegel of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “As a result of this investigation, Hampton and his co-conspirators will now be held accountable for their crimes. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue using all available tools to disrupt and dismantle criminal enterprises, holding traffickers accountable for the havoc they wreak on our communities.”
“Daily, drugs and those who peddle them put our friends and neighbors at risk. Taking drugs off the streets is critical to the safety of our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Carrie Nordyke, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Seattle Field Office. “IRS-CI and our law enforcement partners are committed to the health and safety of our communities; we will continue to bring traffickers like Mr. Hampton to justice.”
“This sentence should serve as serious warning to anyone trafficking drugs in our state. The Alaska State Troopers and our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners will find you, arrest you, and hold you accountable for your actions," said Alaska State Trooper Colonel Maurice Hughes. "The incredible work by all of the agencies involved in this investigation and prosecution demonstrates the level of effort that Alaska law enforcement will put into dismantling illicit drug operations targeting Alaska.”
- Blanchard pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy on April 24, 2023. She was sentenced to two and a half years in prison and three years’ supervised release on Aug. 10, 2023.
- Crossley pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy on June 7, 2024. He was sentenced to roughly two years and eight months in prison and three years’ supervised release on Oct. 7, 2024.
- Holyfield pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Jan. 27, 2023. He was sentenced to time served and two years’ supervised release on Sept. 17, 2025.
- McGirt was found incompetent to stand trial due to a severe mental illness, and his case was dismissed on March 4, 2026.
- Watson pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of money laundering conspiracy on May 17, 2024. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison and 10 years’ supervised release on Aug. 22, 2024.
The FBI Anchorage Field Office, Alaska State Troopers and IRS-CI Anchorage Field Office investigated the case, with assistance provided by the Anchorage Airport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Team and Mat-Su HIDTA Team.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chris Schroeder and Ainsley McNerney prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Region One comprises agents and officers from Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations – Seattle; the United States Attorney’s Office(s) for the Districts of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Eastern Washington, and Western Washington; the Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP); CBP – Office of Field Operations; CBP – Air & Marine Operations; U.S. Border Patrol; U.S. Coast Guard, Coast Guard Investigative Service; and Transportation Security Administration, Law Enforcement/Federal Air Marshal Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska.
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Southeast commercial fisherman sentenced in illegal halibut fishing conspiracyRead the Press Release
JUNEAU, Alaska – A Southeast Alaska commercial fisherman was sentenced yesterday to five years’ probation, a $15,000 fine and a world-wide fishing and hunting ban throughout his time on probation for his role in a conspiracy to illegally harvest halibut with another commercial fisherman, in violation of the Lacey Act.
According to court documents, from September 2019 to August 2022, Vincent Jacobson, 52, conspired with Jonathan Pavlik, 41, both of Yakutat, to fraudulently use Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) permits to commit violations of federal law and regulations. An IFQ permit is a permit any individual commercially fishing for halibut in the waters off Alaska is required to have. It requires a permit holder to be aboard a vessel at all times during a fishing trip, including when fishing gear is set and when fish are harvested from the set gear.
On Aug. 24, 2022, Pavlik allegedly directed his crew aboard the F/V New Era to receive halibut on his behalf from Jacobson aboard the F/V Epic. The halibut was harvested by the F/V Epic at a time that neither Pavlik nor his crew were aboard, which is a violation of federal law and regulations. Pavlik later landed the halibut under his IFQ permit, allegedly falsely reporting the vessel of harvest and that the halibut was creditable to his IFQ balance, when the halibut had been harvested from fishing gear that was set by the F/V Epic and transferred to the F/V New Era, while Pavlik was not aboard the vessel.
The next day, while aboard the F/V New Era, Pavlik allegedly retained halibut from fishing gear that had been set by Jacobson aboard the F/V Epic at a time when Pavlik was not aboard the vessel. Pavlik then landed halibut under his IFQ permit, allegedly falsely reporting the vessel of harvest and that the halibut was creditable to his IFQ balance, when the halibut had been harvested from fishing gear that was set by the F/V Epic while he was not aboard the vessel. Pavlik then allegedly paid Jacobson for the illegally caught halibut from both days.
Jacobson participated in two additional fishing trips in 2019 and 2020 with nearly identical conduct.
On Aug. 28, 2025, Jacobson pleaded guilty to one count of Lacey Act conspiracy.
“In the heart of IFQ season, this sentence should serve as a reminder that there are significant consequences for breaking the laws that help sustain and maintain Alaska’s vital fishing industry,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “Mr. Jacobson knew the rules and regulations surrounding commercial halibut fishing and used that knowledge to game the system. This conduct is an affront to law abiding commercial fisherman and he now has a federal criminal conviction because of it.”
“Protecting the future of Alaska’s fisheries requires honest fishing practices, promoting fairness and equity for all industry participants. NOAA enforces federal statutes to ensure all participants conduct their business within a level playing field” said Benjamin Cheeseman, Assistant Director of NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement, Alaska Division. “These sentences ensure lawful stakeholders are given the opportunity to conduct successful business, by sending a powerful message to potential offenders. We remain vigilant in ensuring offenders are deterred, and preserving Alaska’s fisheries for our Nation’s future.”
- Pavlik was charged with four counts of Lacey Act conspiracy, five counts of Lacey Act—unlawful sale, and five counts of Lacey Act—false labeling. He is awaiting the scheduling of his trial.
- Kyle Dierick, 36, of Yakutat, was charged with one count of one count of Lacey Act conspiracy. He is awaiting the scheduling of his trial.
- Michael Babic, 43, of Cordova, was charged with one count of Lacey Act conspiracy. He is awaiting the scheduling of his trial.
- Timothy Ross, 58, of Washington, pleaded guilty to one count of Lacey Act conspiracy on Sept. 8, 2025, and was sentenced to five years’ probation and a $15,000 fine on Dec. 10, 2025.
The NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Law Enforcement Alaska Division is investigating the case, with assistance from the Alaska Wildlife Troopers.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac Caille Petursson prosecuted the case.
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Former Fairbanks teacher indicted, arrested on child exploitation chargesRead the Press Release
FAIRBANKS, Alaska – A former Fairbanks teacher was arrested yesterday after a federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging him with sexually exploiting a child to produce and possess child sexual abuse materials (CSAM).
According to court documents, beginning on an unknown date and continuing until Aug. 25, 2023, Skyler Evans, 34, coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct with the intention of producing visuals of that conduct. The indictment also alleges that beginning on an unknown date and continuing until March 25, 2025, Evans possessed and attempted to possess CSAM.
Evans is charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a child – production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. The defendant is scheduled to make his initial court appearance on May 4, 2026, before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces between 15 and 30 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Matthew Schlegel of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Anchorage Field Office is investigating the case, with assistance from the Fairbanks Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Vosacek is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Savoonga woman sentenced to 10 years for trafficking drugs to her communityRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Savoonga woman was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in prison for trafficking large amounts of illegal drugs into her small community on behalf of a drug trafficking organization allegedly run by a California inmate.
According to court documents, in December 2022, law enforcement officials identified a suspicious parcel addressed to Michelle Pungowiyi, 51, at a P.O. Box in Savoonga, a rural Alaska community with a population of around 835 people, located on St. Lawrence Island. Law enforcement officials, armed with a federal search warrant, opened the parcel and found over 3,000 illicit fentanyl pills.
A few weeks later, law enforcement officials identified another suspicious parcel addressed to Pungowiyi at the same P.O. Box. Law enforcement officials executed another federal search warrant and found over 4,000 illicit fentanyl pills.
In February 2023, law enforcement officials learned of a third parcel addressed to Pungowiyi at the same P.O. Box, but they were unable to stop the parcel in time, and it was delivered on Feb. 13.
Investigators determined that Pungowiyi was in contact with the alleged ringleader of the organization. Text messages between Pungowiyi and the alleged ringleader documented that the first two packages containing drugs never reached their Savoonga destination.
“Ms. Pungowiyi tried to traffic over 7,000 illegal fentanyl pills into the small community of Savoonga, enough to potentially kill the entire village population eight times over,” said U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon. “Her role in this drug trafficking organization shows that suppliers and dealers will stop at nothing to exploit Alaskans, no matter where they are located. Thanks to the incredible law enforcement and prosecutorial work, we are taking drug traffickers out of the pipeline one after another.”
“Ms. Pungowiyi trafficked deadly fentanyl into her own remote Alaskan village targeting her vulnerable community with enough poison to kill them all,” said Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “Through Fentanyl Free America, DEA is working alongside our partners to disrupt the criminal networks responsible for flooding communities with deadly drugs and to hold accountable those who profit from dealing in death. We will continue to pursue traffickers at every level and use every available tool to protect the American people from this unprecedented threat.”
“The distribution and use of illegal and dangerous narcotics have no place in the U.S. Postal Service and the State of Alaska. The conviction of Pungowiyi removes a plague from their community and a dangerous criminal,” said Inspector in Charge Anthony Galetti of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Seattle Division. “Every day, Postal Inspectors here in Alaska work with our law enforcement partners to do everything we can to identify those responsible for using the U.S. Mail to transport illegal and dangerous narcotics and we thank them for their support and efforts in this investigation.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska has been recused from this case expect for certain personnel. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven D. Clymer from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York has been appointed as Special Attorney to the United States Attorney General to assist with this and other recused cases. He reports to and acts under the direction of the Deputy Attorney General, or his delegee, or U.S. Attorney Bradford in these cases. Special Attorney Clymer supervises personnel from the District of Alaska who have been exempted from the recusal.
The Drug Enforcement Administration Seattle Field Division Office and Anchorage District Office, U.S. Postal Inspection Service Seattle Division and Anchorage Domicile, and Alaska State Troopers investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Schroeder prosecuted the case.
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Anchorage man sentenced to 7 years for robbing two banks in 24 hoursRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage man was sentenced yesterday to seven years in prison for robbing two banks last year.
According to court documents, on Sept. 16, 2025, Ezekiel Thomas, 38, was released on bail in several pending state cases, including a bank robbery in Bethel.
In the afternoon of Sept. 18, a man entered a bank in Anchorage and gave a demand note to a bank employee. The note implied people would be hurt if the employee did not provide money. The employee gave him $590, and the man left the bank.
The next day, agents with the FBI Anchorage Field Office received a call from the Palmer Police Department regarding a robbery at a bank in Palmer. Officers detained the bank robber and believed he was the same subject from the Anchorage bank robbery that occurred a day prior. Law enforcement identified the subject as Thomas.
According to court documents, the day of the robbery, Thomas entered the Palmer bank and gave an intimidating note to a bank employee. The employee gave Thomas roughly $2,270 and he left the bank before being detained by Palmer law enforcement.
“Mr. Thomas is a career criminal that chose to brazenly rob two banks while out on state bail over a span of 24-hours,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “Thank you to Palmer Police Department for their swift response that resulted in Mr. Thomas’ arrest, and to the FBI for their diligent investigation that brought this reoffender to justice.”
“Spanning multiple communities in Alaska, Mr. Thomas carried out these bank robberies while he was already on state probation for a prior bank robbery conviction. His crimes demonstrate a blatant disregard for the law and for the safety of others,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Schlegel of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Following a collaborative investigation with local law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, this sentence reflects our shared commitment to public safety and holding repeat offenders like Mr. Thomas accountable.”
The FBI Anchorage Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from Palmer Police Department and the Anchorage Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Bradley prosecuted the case.
Repeat offender sentenced to 15 years for drug trafficking, firearms crimesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage man was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in prison for committing drug trafficking and firearms crimes while on pretrial release in multiple state cases.
According to court documents, in 2013, Paul Baldwin Jr., 35, was convicted of a federal drug trafficking crime and sentenced to seven years in prison. Baldwin was released from federal prison in 2019 and placed on supervision. His supervision was terminated in December 2021. Within months of termination, he was trafficking drugs again.
In September 2022, Anchorage Police Officers responded to a residence for a call. Upon arrival, officers saw Baldwin walking back and forth between the residence and a vehicle in the driveway. When officers pulled in the driveway, Baldwin fled on foot.
Officers searched the vehicle in the driveway and discovered a pistol, over 80 grams of illegal fentanyl pills and over $16,000 in cash. At the time of the search, Baldwin was a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms.
Roughly a week later, officers arrested Baldwin at an apartment in Anchorage. At the time of the arrest, officers observed Baldwin attempting to flush nearly 200 grams of heroin down the toilet. He was also in possession of another pistol and officers found over $1,000 in cash and illicit fentanyl pills in his pockets as well as illegal fentanyl pills and over $420 in cash inside Baldwin’s backpack. Officers later recovered an additional 44 grams of illegal fentanyl pills hidden on his person.
In March 2023, law enforcement attempted to stop a vehicle that Baldwin was driving in Fairbanks, but Baldwin fled at a high rate of speed before losing control and hitting a snow berm. Officers searched Baldwin’s person and discovered over 14 grams of illegal fentanyl pills, over $5,600 in cash and key cards for a room at a local hotel. Law enforcement officers searched the hotel room at the local hotel and found over 290 grams of illegal drugs, $2,450 in cash and a lump of suspected gold.
Following his arrest, Baldwin made multiple recorded phone calls from jail to another person asking them to look for something at a residence. Law enforcement recovered roughly 198 grams of illegal fentanyl pills and 145 grams of heroin.
In January 2023, Baldwin was indicted by a federal grand jury with being a felon in possessing of a firearm. In May 2023, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment adding three additional charges, including two counts of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute. In August 2024, while he was pending trial in this federal case, Baldwin was released for a period of one day to attend a relative’s funeral and failed to return to jail. He was arrested roughly two months later.
On Jan. 8, 2026, Baldwin pleaded guilty to one count of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms.
“Mr. Baldwin is an armed drug trafficker that has, over and over, endangered our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “Dangerous repeat offenders will not be tolerated. Our law enforcement partners are working diligently every day to hold habitual offenders, like Mr. Baldwin, accountable and taking them off the streets.”
“Mr. Baldwin engaged in drug trafficking while illegally carrying a firearm as a convicted felon – a combination that put innocent lives at risk in our community,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Schlegel of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Protecting our communities from drug trafficking and violence remains a top priority for the FBI. We will continue working closely with our law enforcement partners to disrupt these activities and keep our neighborhoods safe.”
The FBI Anchorage Field Office and the Anchorage Police Department investigated this case as part of the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force. Additional assistance was provided by the Alaska State Troopers as part of the Fairbanks Areawide Narcotics Team (FANT) and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Miller prosecuted the case.
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U.S. authorities conduct cyber operations as part of global crackdown on DDoS-for-hire servicesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The U.S. Justice Department today announced court-authorized actions taken to disrupt some of the world’s leading Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Internet of Things (IoT) botnet services.
U.S. authorities continue to focus resources on charging DDoS botnet administrators and seizing infrastructure, like websites, that allow paying users to launch powerful DDoS attacks. These attacks flood targeted computers and servers with information to prevent them from being able to access the internet. In recent years, DDoS, aka “booter,” services have continued to proliferate as they offer a low barrier to entry for users looking to engage in cybercriminal activity.
DDoS services, such as those named in this action, allegedly attacked a wide array of victims in the United States and abroad, including schools, government agencies, gaming platforms, critical infrastructure, including Department of War resources, and millions of people. In addition to affecting targeted victims, these attacks can significantly degrade internet services and completely disrupt internet connections.
In the District of Alaska, U.S. authorities seized services associated with eight DDoS-for-hire domains, including “Vac Stresser” and “Mythical Stress,” which both purport to launch tens of thousands of DDoS attacks per day. The District of Alaska also conducted searches of DDoS-for-hire backend servers.
United States Attorney's Office, District of Alaska; Case #: 3:26-mj-00248Today’s announcement builds on the success of the prior cases by targeting known DDoS sites, shutting down large numbers of them simultaneously, and undertaking a public education campaign. In the last four years, more than 11 defendants have been charged in Anchorage and Los Angeles for facilitating DDoS-for-hire services. More than 100 domains associated with such services have been seized.
In conjunction with the website seizures, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Department of War Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), and the Netherlands Police have launched an advertising campaign using targeted placement ads in search engines, which are triggered by keywords associated with DDoS activities. The purpose of the ads is to deter potential cybercriminals searching for DDoS services in the United States and around the globe, and to educate the public on the illegality of DDoS activities.
“Criminal DDoS-for-hire services impact internet services for victims across the country, including Alaska,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “This threat highlights the continued need to combat cybercrime services like booter providers. We continue to prioritize addressing these threats through collaborative domestic and international partnerships to safeguard critical internet infrastructure and services for all Americans.”
“Today’s announcement is the result of continued partnership between law enforcement and the private sector, targeting criminal DDoS services that threaten the integrity of the internet,” said Special Agent in Charge Kenneth DeChellis of the DCIS, Cyber Field Office. “DDoS is a clear threat to the Department and will continue to be a target of our investigative efforts.”
For additional information on DDoS services and the harm that they cause, please visit: https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/anchorage/fbi-intensify-efforts-to-combat-illegal-ddos-attacks.
This law enforcement action was taken in conjunction with Operation PowerOFF, an ongoing, coordinated effort among international law enforcement agencies aimed at dismantling criminal DDoS-for-hire infrastructures worldwide, and holding accountable the administrators and users of these illegal services. Principal partners in Operation PowerOFF include EUROPOL; the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of Alaska and Central District of California; DCIS; FBI’s Anchorage Field Office; HSI’s Columbus Field Office; the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and International Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property (ICHIP) attorney advisor, who is based at Eurojust in The Hague; Germany’s Bundeskriminalamt (BKA); Netherlands Police; Polish Central Cybercrime Bureau; Japan’s National Police Agency, France’s Police Nationale, and many others.
Assistance was provided by Akamai, Amazon Web Services, Cloudflare, Digital Ocean, Epieos, Google, Hydrolix, PayPal, Registrar of Last Resort and The ShadowServer Foundation, The University of Cambridge and Unit 221B.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander of the District of Alaska is prosecuting this case.
United States Attorney's Office, District of Alaska; Case #: 3:26-mj-00248###
Anchorage man guilty of drug trafficking crimesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal jury convicted an Anchorage man yesterday for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy targeting Alaska.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, James Barber, 44, conspired with the organization’s leader, Aaron Washington, 59, and multiple other people, who have already pleaded guilty to drug trafficking, to import drugs, mainly fentanyl, from Phoenix and Seattle and distribute the drugs in Alaska.
Evidence presented at trial showed that between November 2024 and March 2025, Barber regularly went to the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport to pick up luggage containing one to two kilograms of fentanyl on behalf of the drug trafficking conspiracy.
On one occasion, Washington flew from Anchorage to Phoenix on Nov. 14, 2024, to purchase fentanyl from a codefendant. Washington flew back to Anchorage on Nov. 18. Surveillance video showed Washington bypassing the luggage carousel and heading for the taxi line, while Barber picked up a checked suitcase and left separately.
On another occasion later that month, Washington again flew to Phoenix and returned with two kilograms of fentanyl purchased from a co-conspirator. Law enforcement seized the fentanyl pursuant to a search warrant at the airport. Texts between Washington and Barber indicated that Barber was planning to pick up the luggage at the airport but failed to do so. Washington took the bag and took a taxi home.
Law enforcement recorded at least seven other trips with similar circumstances to both November incidents. At the time of these offenses, Barber was released on pretrial supervision in a prior federal criminal case.
The jury found Barber guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and one count of attempted possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. The jury also found Barber guilty of an enhancement because he committed the crimes while he was on federal supervised release for a separate criminal matter. Barber faces a sentence of 10 years to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Co-defendants in this case are as follows:
- Washington, of Anchorage, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Feb. 17, 2026, and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 28, 2026.
- Charlotte Hill, 55, of Anchorage, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Feb. 6, 2026, and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 16, 2026.
- Erika Willers, 28, of Tukwila, Washington, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Feb. 5, 2026, and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10, 2026.
- Glenn Cooper, 44, of Anchorage, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on March 27, 2026, and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 10, 2026.
- Kenneth Degroff, 38, of Anchorage, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Feb. 5, 2026, and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10, 2026.
- Afshin Manzar, 46, of Phoenix, Arizona, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Dec. 17, 2025, and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 11, 2026.
U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska and Acting Special Agent in Charge Brandon Waddle of the FBI Anchorage Field Office.
The FBI Anchorage Field Office investigated this case, with assistance from the Alaska State Troopers and Anchorage Police Department as part of the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, and from the Mat-Su High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) team. Additional assistance was provided by the Airport HIDTA team and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tom Bradley and Alana Weber are prosecuting the case.
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Utqiagvik man sentenced to 18 years for producing child pornographyRead the Press Release
FAIRBANKS, Alaska – An Utqiagvik man was sentenced last Friday to 18 years in prison for sexually exploiting minor victims to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, in August 2024, the FBI received an anonymous tip suggesting that Donovan Nungasak, 32, had CSAM on his phone. The tip prompted an investigation that revealed Nungasak was corresponding with at least one underage victim for the purposes of sexual exploitation. Nungasak sent photos of his genitalia to the minor victim and possessed multiple sexually explicit photos of her.
After Nungasak was indicted in May 2025, two additional victims came forward. One minor victim reported that Nungasak began communicating with her when she was roughly 15 years old. He sent her messages on Instagram and Snapchat and requested nude images of her. The minor victim would send nude images and Nungasak would send money via an online money transferring service.
The third minor victim began receiving messages from Nungasak on Facebook Messenger and Snapchat when she was in high school. Nungasak requested sexually explicit images of her and sent her photographs of his genitalia. The third minor victim blocked Nungasak and did not send any sexually explicit images.
Throughout the investigation, law enforcement found 41 images of CSAM on Nungasak’s phone, some depicting prepubescent females. Law enforcement also spoke to a witness that came forward after Nungasak had told the witness that he liked younger girls because he could “groom” them to his liking.
Nungasak was arrested at his residence in Utqiagvik on April 28, 2025, and a grand jury returned an indictment charging him with child exploitation offenses on May 21, 2025. Nungasak pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography on Oct. 30, 2025. In handing down the sentence, the Court ordered Nungasak to serve 20 years on supervised release upon completing his custodial sentence.
“Mr. Nungasak targeted young females because he liked to control and exploit their perceived vulnerabilities and then lied about his conduct when confronted on multiple levels” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “His sick torment is over thanks to the actions of law enforcement, our attorneys and the victims and witnesses that came forward during the investigation. He will now spend nearly two decades behind bars.”
“There is no greater priority than safeguarding our children from predators like Nungasak, whose disturbing pattern of conduct involved grooming minors for CSAM in his own local community,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Brandon Waddle of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “The FBI and our partners are steadfast in our commitment to identify, investigate, and hold accountable any individual that seeks to harm our most vulnerable.”
The FBI Anchorage Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the North Slope Borough Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Vosacek prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
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Fort Wainwright Soldier sentenced to 32 years in sadistic child pornography caseRead the Press Release
FAIRBANKS, Alaska – A Fort Wainwright soldier was sentenced today to 32 years in prison for possessing thousands of images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and for producing CSAM.
According to court documents, on Sept. 11, 2024, the Fort Eustis Resident Unit of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division (Army CID) received a National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) cybertip reporting that five images of alleged CSAM were uploaded to the online platform, Discord. Fort Eustis Army CID reviewed the images and determined they depicted CSAM of prepubescent female children.
A subsequent investigation resulted in law enforcement executing search warrants in October 2024 for the residence of David Andres Mayoral, 21, his electronic devices and his Discord account.
A review and forensic examination of Mayoral’s account and electronic devices revealed over 2,500 images and over 680 videos of CSAM, and an additional 1,000 computer generated/artificial intelligence images depicting CSAM. Some images depicted the violent rape of children.
Court documents detail conversations Mayoral had with numerous adults and minors across several social media platforms where he discussed distribution and receipt of CSAM, rape, descriptions of sexual acts, violence and other sadistic behavior, including encouraging self-mutilation and attempting to obtain location information for victims so he could “kidnap” them. Mayoral also admitted to sexually abusing a nine-year-old victim.
Mayoral was arrested on Fort Wainwright on March 13, 2025, and a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging him with three counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography on March 20, 2025. Mayoral pleaded guilty to all four charges on Aug. 15, 2025.
Mayoral is required to spend the rest of his life on supervised release following completion of his custodial sentence. In handing down the sentence, the Court emphasized the need to protect children from the defendant’s unrelenting abuse.
“Mr. Mayoral hid behind the perceived anonymity of the internet and exploited children for his own sick desires,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “He was unable to hide from the dedicated law enforcement that ultimately uncovered his perversions. He will now spend over three decades behind bars.”
“Mayoral’s predatory crimes against children, both online and offline, were depraved and an affront to our society,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Brandon Waddle of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Protecting our children is one of the highest callings in law enforcement. I commend the outstanding work by members of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force in their commitment to holding child predators accountable and seeking justice for victims.”
“Mayoral betrayed the Army’s core values by preying upon and exploiting our most precious and vulnerable,” said Special Agent in Charge Michele Starostka, Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, Western Field Office. “This sentencing is a result of Army CID’s relentless commitment to protecting our communities from child predators.”
FBI Anchorage Field Office and Army CID investigated the case as part of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Vosacek prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
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Washington man guilty of distributing fentanyl resulting in two fatal overdosesRead the Press Release
JUNEAU, Alaska – Following a five-day trial, a federal jury convicted a Washington man today of distributing fentanyl pills that resulted in the overdose death of two men in Skagway.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between Jan. 1 to 13, 2023, Jacob Cotton, 34, of Spokane, Washington, agreed to sell and mail approximately 150 fentanyl pills to an individual for distribution in Skagway. The object of the conspiracy was to have Cotton buy fentanyl in Spokane for a cheaper price, ship it to Alaska and then charge a premium price for purchase in Skagway. Cotton and the individual agreed to split any distribution proceeds.
At the time of the agreement, Skagway was “dry,” meaning there was no fentanyl available in the community.
United States Attorney's Office, District of Alaska; U.S. v. Jacob Cotton, Case #: 1:25-cr-00002On Jan. 9, Cotton shipped a parcel containing the pills from Spokane to the individual in Skagway via the U.S. Postal Service. The parcel was delivered sometime between Jan. 11 and 12. On Jan. 12, the individual contacted multiple people indicating the pills were available for purchase, and sold pills to multiple people, including a 44-year-old man.
On Jan. 13, around 11:30 p.m., the individual selling the pills was found unresponsive on his bathroom floor and later declared decease after attempts to revive him. This victim was 28 years old at the time of his death. On Jan. 14, around 4:30 pm., the 44-year-old man was found dead in his bedroom. The State of Alaska Medical Examiner’s Office later determined both victims died from acute toxic effects of fentanyl.
On Jan. 15, law enforcement searched the 28-year-old victim’s residence and recovered a plastic bag with 62 fentanyl pills hidden in a computer tower.
During trial, prosecutors presented evidence of records confirming Cotton’s shipment of drugs, digital messages and other forms of payment connected to the illegal drug sales.
Cotton was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute fentanyl resulting in death and one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. The federal jury also found Cotton guilty of a “death resulting” enhancement for both victims, which required proof that the fentanyl pills Cotton distributed were the cause of each victim’s death. A sentencing hearing will be set for a later date. Cotton faces between 20 years and life in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska, Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Saccone of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Seattle Field Division and Skagway Police Chief Jerry Reddick made the announcement.
The DEA Seattle Field Division and Anchorage District Office, and Skagway Police Department, as part of the Southeast Alaska Cities Against Drugs Task Force (SEACAD), investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jack Schmidt and Carly Vosacek are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of drug trafficking and violent crime.
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Authorities disrupt world’s largest IoT DDoS botnets responsible for record breaking attacks targeting victims worldwideRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The U.S. Justice Department participated in a court-authorized law enforcement operation today to disrupt Command and Control (C2) infrastructure used by the Aisuru, KimWolf, JackSkid and Mossad Internet of Things (IoT) botnets.
The operation was conducted simultaneously to law enforcement actions conducted in Canada and Germany, which targeted individuals who operated these botnets. The four botnets launched Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks targeting victims around the world. Some of these attacks measured approximately 30 Terabits per second, which were record-breaking attacks.
During the operation, the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General’s (DoDIG) Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) executed seizure warrants which targeted multiple U.S.-registered internet domains, virtual servers, and other infrastructure allegedly engaged in cyber-enabled criminal activity, including DDoS attacks against IP’s owned by the Department of Defense Information Network (DoDIN).
According to court documents, the four botnets targeted in the operation together infected millions of devices worldwide. The majority of these devices were IoT devices, such as digital video recorders, web cameras, or WiFi routers. The KimWolf and JackSkid botnets are accused of targeting and infecting devices which are traditionally “firewalled” from the rest of the internet. The infected devices were enslaved by the botnet operators. The operators then used a “cybercrime as a service” model to sell access to the infected devices to other cyber criminals. The operators and their customers forced the victim devices to participate in hundreds of thousands of DDoS attacks, targeting computers and servers located throughout the world. As of March 2026, the number of infected devices hijacked worldwide by the botnet administrators exceeded three million, with hundreds of thousands of infected devices located in the United States.
Some victims reported the DDoS attacks resulted in tens of thousands of dollars in losses and remediation expenses. Cybercriminals used these botnets to launch hundreds of thousands of attacks, in some cases demanding extortion payments from victims. Court documents allege that the Aisuru botnet issued more than 200,000 DDoS attack commands, the KimWolf botnet issued more than 25,000 DDoS attack commands, the JackSkid botnet launched more than 90,000 DDoS attack commands and the Mossad botnet launched more than 1,000 DDoS attack commands.
This operation, in coordination with other international law enforcement actions, is intended to disrupt communications associated with the Aisuru, KimWolf, JackSkid, and Mossad botnets, preventing further infection to victim devices and limiting or eliminating the ability of the botnets to launch future attacks.
“Today, the United States joined international law enforcement partners in coordinated enforcement actions to disrupt DDoS threats impacting Alaskans and victims around the world,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “Effective collaboration bolsters our collective ability to combat emerging threats. The United States is steadfast in our commitment to safeguarding critical internet infrastructure and fighting the cybercriminals who jeopardize its security, wherever they might live.”
“Today’s disruption of four powerful botnets highlights our commitment to eliminate emerging cyber threats to the Department of Defense and its warfighters,” said Special Agent in Charge Kenneth DeChellis of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Cyber Field Office. “Cybercriminals infiltrate infrastructure beyond physical borders and DCIS participates in international operations to help safeguard the Department’s global footprint. Collaboration among law enforcement and industry partners has proven vital to this success.”
“By working closely with DCIS and our international law enforcement partners, we collectively identified and disrupted criminal infrastructure used to carry out large-scale DDoS attacks,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “This operation reflects the strength of that collaboration and our shared commitment to combatting cybercrime and protecting victims worldwide.”
DoDIG DCIS is investigating the case, with assistance from the FBI Anchorage Field Office.
Law enforcement agencies from Canada and Germany conducted their own operations targeting botnet administrators and botnet infrastructure. International partners include:
- Germany: Bundeskriminalamt (BKA) Cyber and Public Prosecutor’s Office in Cologne (ZAC NRW)
- Canada: Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and Sûreté du Québec (SQ)
Additionally, the U.S. Justice Department thanks Akamai, Amazon Web Services, Cloudflare, DigitalOcean, Epieos, Google, Hydrolix, Lumen, Nokia, Okta, Oracle, PayPal, Registrar of Last Resort, The Shadowserver Foundation, Sony Interactive Entertainment, SpyCloud, Synthient, Team Cymru, Unit 221B, XLAB and Netherlands Politie and EUROPOL’s PowerOFF team for their assistance provided during this investigation and operation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska Adam Alexander is prosecuting this matter.
If anyone has information on the alleged threats or other DDoS threats, please contact U.S. authorities at [email protected].
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Anchorage Doctor Sentenced to Prison for Multi-Million-Dollar Health Care Fraud and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
An Anchorage doctor was sentenced yesterday to six and a half years in prison and three years of supervised release for executing a $12.5 million health care fraud scheme and evading over $4 million in taxes on the profits of that 15-year scheme. Her husband and co-defendant was sentenced to three years of probation, with two years to be served in home confinement.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Dr. Claribel Tan, 61, and her husband, Daniel Tan, 70, operated a rheumatology medical clinic in Anchorage starting in 2005. Claribel Tan specialized in the treatment of autoimmune and musculoskeletal diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and psoriatic arthritis, and she prescribed injectable medications to treat those conditions. Although these conditions are often chronic, degenerative and irreversible, certain medicines can slow down or arrest their progression. Daniel Tan assisted as an officer manager at the clinic.
Beginning in 2009 and continuing through 2024, the Tans deceived patients about the medications Claribel Tan administered through injections and then fraudulently billed health insurance plans for reimbursement of medications that the Tans did not purchase. Claribel Tan routinely and surreptitiously injected patients with free samples, expired medications and medications other than those prescribed. The Tans then knowingly billed insurance plans as if she had provided a proper injection to each patient. Specifically, the Tans claimed to have administered 4,829 units of the medications to patients, and billed the insurance plans for that amount, despite only purchasing 369 units of medication.
Daniel Tan helped execute the scheme by ordering insufficient medication for the clinic and creating and submitting fraudulent insurance claims. The Tans also made false statements about the length of Claribel Tan’s office visits with her patients and submitted fraudulent claims to insurance plans for services she never provided. In addition to creating significant health risks for the patients, the Tans’ fraud scheme caused a loss of over $12.5 to more than 10 insurance plans.
The Tans also filed false tax returns to conceal their fraud. Knowing full well the clinic had not purchased the quantity of medications for which they billed insurance plans, they fraudulently overstated the clinic’s expenses on its tax returns for 2014, 2015 and 2017, which allowed them to underreport the clinic’s total income during those years. And from 2018 to 2021, the Tans willfully failed to file tax returns for the clinic. The Tans’ tax fraud scheme caused a total loss to the IRS of more than $4.2 million.
In July 2019, federal law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on the clinic, which uncovered stockpiles of expired medications prescribed to patients for at-home use, free samples clearly marked as not-for-sale and improperly stored and reconstituted syringes of medications. Some of the expired medications, pictured below, were improperly intermingled with other medication stored at the clinic.
Stockpiled MedicationsFollowing the search warrant, the Tans temporarily began purchasing the medications for which they billed insurance companies. In 2021, however, they reverted to their fraudulent billing practices and once again failed to actually purchase the medications they claimed to administer. They persisted in the scheme until they were indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2024.
In November 2025, the Tans both pleaded guilty in the District of Alaska to one count of health care fraud and one count of tax evasion.
In 2024 and 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office seized approximately $10.4 million in health care fraud proceeds from the Tans. As part of their plea agreements, the Tans agreed to forfeit the seized funds to the U.S. The Tans also submitted a $6.3 million payment towards their future restitution judgment. A district judge will schedule a separate hearing to determine restitution. The Tans also paid approximately $1.8 million to the United States to settle civil claims under the False Claims Act arising from the health care fraud scheme. Claribel Tan also has surrendered her medical license.
More information about the case is available at https://www.justice.gov/usao-ak/united-states-v-tan-et-al. Victims who believe they may be entitled to restitution can email [email protected] for more information.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska made the announcement.
Department of Defense Criminal Investigative Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, the FBI, Defense Contract Audit Agency, Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General Criminal Investigations Division, Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration, Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations, Office of Personnel Management Office of the Inspector General, and State of Alaska Division of Insurance Investigation Unit investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Dominick Giovanniello of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth Beausang of the District of Alaska prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jackie Traini of the District of Alaska led the civil fraud investigation.
Anchorage doctor sentenced to prison in multi-million-dollar health care, tax fraud schemesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage doctor was sentenced today to six and a half years in prison for executing a $12.5 million health care fraud scheme and evading over $4 million in taxes on the profits of their 15-year scheme. Her husband and co-defendant was sentenced to three years’ probation, with two years to be served in home confinement for his role in the fraudulent scheme.
According to court documents, since 2005, Dr. Claribel Tan, 61, and her husband, Daniel Tan, 70, operated a rheumatology medical clinic in Anchorage. Dr. Tan specialized in the treatment of autoimmune and musculoskeletal diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and psoriatic arthritis, and prescribed injectable medications to treat those conditions. These conditions are often chronic, degenerative and irreversible, but certain medicines can slow or arrest the progression of such diseases. Mr. Tan performed office and management work for the clinic. As part of their scheme, the Tans deceived their patients about the kinds and doses of medications Dr. Tan administered through injections in the office, and fraudulently billed health insurance plans for reimbursement of medications that the Tans did not purchase or administer to patients.
Beginning in 2009 and continuing through 2024, Dr. Tan routinely and surreptitiously underdosed patients, injected them with free samples or a different medication than prescribed, injected them with expired medication, and injected them with medications purchased by other patients. Covert video recordings of Dr. Tan treating two of her patients confirmed her deceit.
The Tans then knowingly billed insurance plans as if Dr. Tan had provided a proper injection to each patient. Specifically, the Tans claimed to have administered 4,829 units of the medications to patients, and billed the insurance plans for that amount, despite only purchasing 369 units of medication.
Mr. Tan helped execute the scheme in part by creating and submitting fraudulent insurance claims and ordering insufficient medication for the clinic. The Tans also made false statements about the length of Dr. Tan’s office visits with her patients and submitted fraudulent claims to insurance plans for services that Dr. Tan never provided. The Tans’ fraud scheme created significant health risks to the patients and caused a loss of over $12.5 to more than 10 insurance plans.
In July 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant on the clinic, uncovering stockpiles of expired medications prescribed to patients for at-home use, free samples clearly marked as not for sale, and improperly stored and reconstituted syringes of medications. Some of the expired medications, pictured below, were intermingled with other medication stored at the clinic.
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Alaska; U.S. vs Tan et al, Case #: 3:24-cr-00072Following the search warrant execution, the Tans appeared to temporarily begin purchasing all the medications they billed insurance companies for. In 2021, they reverted to fraudulent billing practices, continuing the scheme until they were indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2024.
The Tans also created false tax records to conceal the health care fraud scheme. The Tans knew that the clinic had not purchased the quantity of medications that they billed insurance plans for, and they fraudulently overstated the clinic’s expenses on the clinic’s tax returns for 2014, 2015, and 2017, allowing them to falsely underreport the clinic’s income. From 2018 to 2021, the Tans willfully failed to file tax returns for the clinic. The Tans’ tax fraud scheme caused a loss of over $4.2 million to the IRS.
In November 2025, the Tans both pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud and one count of tax evasion.
In 2024 and 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office seized approximately $10.4 million in health care fraud proceeds from the Tans. At sentencing, the Court ordered Dr. Tan to serve three years on supervised release following the completion of her custodial sentence, as well as the scheduling of a separate hearing to determine restitution. As part of their plea agreements, the Tans agreed to forfeit the seized funds to the U.S. The Tans also submitted today a $6.3 million payment towards their future restitution judgment. The Tans further paid the U.S. an additional $1.8 million to settle civil claims under the False Claims Act arising from the health care fraud scheme. Dr. Tan has also surrendered her medical license.
More information about the case is available at https://www.justice.gov/usao-ak/united-states-v-tan-et-al. Victims who believe they may be entitled to restitution can email [email protected] for more information.
“For well over a decade, Dr. Tan and her husband operated a fraud scheme and squirreled away millions of dollars at the expense of their patients, callously disregarding the medical needs of those suffering from debilitating diseases so they could become rich,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “Finally, their dangerous deceit is over. Law enforcement seized their fraudulent retirement plan, and Dr. Tan will be spending years in federal prison. I want to thank our attorneys and incredible law enforcement partners for diligently seeking justice in this case.”
“For over 15 years, the Tans deceived unsuspecting patients seeking treatment for debilitating diseases while exploiting the TRICARE program for personal gain,” said John Helsing, Special Agent in Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s Western Field Office. “As the investigative arm of the Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General, DCIS remains fully committed to holding accountable those who defraud TRICARE and endanger our nation’s warfighters, retirees, and their family members who rely on this program for care.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Tan didn’t just steal from the government or the healthcare system; they let their patients suffer from treatable diseases for financial gain,” said Carrie Nordyke, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Seattle Field Office. “This ruling speaks to the human cost of fraud and our duty to hold criminals accountable for it.”
The DCIS Western Field Office and IRS Criminal Investigation Seattle Division led the investigation, with assistance from the FBI Anchorage Field Office, Defense Contract Audit Agency, Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General Criminal Investigations Division, Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration, Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations, Office of Personnel Management Office of the Inspector General and State of Alaska Division of Insurance Investigation Unit.
Trial Attorney Dominick Giovanniello of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth Beausang and Bill Reed of the District of Alaska prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jackie Traini of the District of Alaska led the civil fraud investigation.
UPDATE: This release has been updated to include OPM OIG as an investigating agency.
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Anchorage man sentenced to over 13 years for role in Alaska drug trafficking conspiracyRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage man was sentenced today to over 13 years in prison for conspiring with others to traffic fentanyl, methamphetamine and heroin in Alaska on behalf of a drug trafficking organization allegedly run by a California inmate.
According to court documents, on March 23, 2023, Richard Frye, 37, and co-conspirator Tiffani Couch, 32, drove their other co-conspirator Anna Petla, 26, to the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and dropped her off. Law enforcement officials contacted Petla inside the airport and found her in possession of nearly 3,000 blue fentanyl pills and over 80 grams of methamphetamine that she was planning to transport to Sand Point for distribution.
Law enforcement officials subsequently contacted Frye and Couch as they waited in their vehicle outside the departure area and detained both. Officers searched the vehicle and found over 500 blue fentanyl pills and over 40 grams of other controlled substances.
On June 9, 2023, law enforcement officials contacted Frye and Couch during a traffic stop in Anchorage. Frye was a fugitive with an outstanding arrest warrant and attempted to flee the traffic stop. Officers searched the vehicle and recovered roughly 1,400 blue fentanyl pills, over 12 grams of other controlled substances and two loaded ammunition magazines.
Frye, as part of the conspiracy involving the drug trafficking organization, intended to distribute to others both the controlled substances police seized from his vehicle in March 2023, and those seized from his vehicle in June 2023.
After law enforcement officials arrested Frye and Couch following the traffic stop on June 9, Frye was booked into custody at the Anchorage Correctional Complex. During booking staff found a suspicious mass in Frye’s stomach during a body scan. It was later determined that before his arrest, Frye ingested fentanyl and suboxone wrapped in cellophane and condoms with the intent to distribute these substances inside the correctional facility.
Frye posted state bail and was released. Frye spoke to the alleged leader of the drug trafficking organization on the phone after his releases and discussed a plan to smuggle suboxone strips into the Anchorage Correctional Complex again because the substance was going for “300 a piece right now” inside the complex. Frye was ordered detained again following a bail hearing in state court on June 23, 2023. On June 25, 2023, correctional officers discovered Frye attempted to secrete on his body roughly 70 suboxone strips into the detention facility with the intent to distribute them inside the facility.
Court documents also explain that between December 2022 and March 2023, Frye used a digital money transferring service to send over $8,800 to a co-conspirator’s account. During the same time frame, Frye received nine transfers totaling over $1,000 from the same co-conspirator.
“With today’s sentence, we are one step closer to dismantling Alaska’s largest drug trafficking enterprise,” said U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon. “I am grateful for the collaboration between local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to hold those involved in trafficking fentanyl accountable.”
“This defendant’s actions show the lengths traffickers will go to peddle poison in correctional facilities and in our communities in Alaska,” said Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “Cases like this demonstrate DEA’s unwavering commitment to disrupting the fentanyl supply chain and holding accountable those who distribute these deadly drugs. Through enforcement, education, awareness, and strong partnerships with our law enforcement colleagues, we are working every day toward a Fentanyl Free America. Together, we can protect our communities and save American lives.”
Co-defendants in this case are as follows:
- Couch, of Anchorage, pleaded guilty on May 9, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Couch was sentenced to four years in prison and three years’ supervised release on Feb. 5, 2026.
- Petla, of Dillingham, pleaded guilty on June 4, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Petla was sentenced to four years in prison and three years’ supervised release on Oct. 28, 2025.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska has been recused from this case expect for certain personnel. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven D. Clymer from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York has been appointed as Special Attorney to the United States Attorney General to assist with this and other recused cases. He reports to and acts under the direction of the Deputy Attorney General, or his delegee, or U.S. Attorney Bradford in these cases. Special Attorney Clymer supervises personnel from the District of Alaska who have been exempted from the recusal.
The Drug Enforcement Administration Seattle Field Division Office and Anchorage District Office, FBI Anchorage Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation Seattle Field Office, U.S. Postal Inspection Service Seattle Division and Anchorage Domicile, Homeland Security Investigations Anchorage, Alaska Office, Alaska State Troopers and Anchorage Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephan Collins, Chris Schroeder and Alana Weber are prosecuting the case.
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Eagle River man sentenced to 10 years for possessing a firearm as a felon during a crime of domestic violenceRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Eagle River man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for using a prohibited firearm during a crime of domestic violence.
According to court documents, in November 2023, Anchorage police officers were called after a bystander contacted a female victim after she escaped a domestic violence assault. The victim told police that Kyle Reynolds, 28, strangled her, slashed the tires of her vehicle and threatened her with a pistol. Reynolds also took the victim’s phone so she could not report the assault.
Anchorage police officers arrested Reynolds that same day. Officers recovered the knife Reynolds used to slash the victim’s tires and a handgun in Reynolds’ truck.
Shortly after his arrest, Reynolds called his mother and co-defendant, Elizabeth Chardome, 68, from custody and allegedly instructed her to force entry to his residence and attempt to secure a second firearm. Court documents alleged that Chardome, knowing that her son was prohibited from possessing firearms, purchased for Reynolds the firearm used to assault the victim.
Before the charged conduct, Reynolds had a prior felony conviction for assault and failing to stop at the direction of a peace officers resulting in injury. Reynolds is also a recidivist domestic violence offender.
On April 22, 2024, Reynolds was charged by complaint with one count of being a felon in possession of firearms. On Aug. 21, 2024, Chardome and Reynolds were indicted by a federal grand jury with crimes related to the November 2023 incident. Chardome is charged with one count of making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm and is scheduled for trial on April 27, 2026.
During sentencing, the Court also ordered Reynolds to serve three years on supervised release following the completion of his custodial sentence.
“Mr. Reynolds’ extensive criminal history reflects repeated abuse of women and a persistent disregard for the law,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “This sentence sends a clear message that violent crimes committed with prohibited firearms will be met with significant penalties under federal law. I commend the survivor’s remarkable courage and the swift actions of law enforcement in holding Reynolds accountable.”
“This sentence reflects the seriousness of the defendant’s actions. Mr. Reynolds escalated an already dangerous domestic violence situation with a firearm he was prohibited from possessing,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais of the ATF Seattle Field Division. “When someone with a history of violence chooses to arm themselves, both the victim and community are at even greater risk. Our agency will continue to prioritize protecting survivors and ensuring that those who repeatedly commit acts of violence face meaningful consequences.”
The ATF Anchorage Field Office and Anchorage Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander prosecuted the case.
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Bangladeshi national to make initial appearance following arrest by the FBI in international sextortion caseRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Bangladeshi national is scheduled to make his initial appearance today in the District of Alaska after he was charged by the United States in 2022 with operating an international child sexual exploitation enterprise.
According to court documents, in July 2022, Zobaidul Amin, 28, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Alaska with charges related to his alleged abuse and exploitation of hundreds of minor victims in Alaska, and elsewhere in the United States and abroad. According to court documents, Amin used social media applications including Instagram and Snapchat to identify and coerce minor victims to produce images and videos of sexually explicit and sadistic conduct.
The FBI and the Justice Department have been working in coordination with Malaysian authorities since September 2022, when Amin was charged by the Attorney General’s Chambers of Malaysia with 13 counts related to the possession and production of child pornography. Amin was living in and attending medical school in Malaysia prior to the charges. Amin was transferred from Malaysia to Alaska by the FBI on March 4, 2026.
“Yesterday’s return from Malaysia of a Bangladeshi national who allegedly abused and sexually exploited hundreds of minor victims worldwide is another successful example of the Administration’s increased efforts to find criminals hiding abroad,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Together with our international partners and the U.S. Department of State, we are countering online child sexual exploitation, protecting our most vulnerable, and bringing these sick abusers to face justice on American soil.”
“The FBI’s commitment to protecting our children from exploitation doesn’t change whether an offender is here in the U.S. or overseas,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “In collaboration with our partners, we will continue to ensure perpetrators like Amin are held accountable and brought to justice.”
“The impact of this case is that of international magnitude. It stands as one of the most prolific cases of alleged online child exploitation the United States has ever seen,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “We are grateful for the steady, strong collaboration among the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, law enforcement agencies and Malaysian partners that made this transfer possible, enabling us to move forward and seek justice for victims.”
“Demonstrated by this significant step taken by the FBI, those who target children online cannot hide behind anonymity or borders,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “FBI Anchorage’s successful transport and arrest operation is a testament to the strength of our international law enforcement partnerships, and the FBI’s relentless pursuit of justice for victims.”
Amin is charged with one count of conspiracy to produce child pornography, one count of conspiracy to receive and distribute child pornography, one count of child exploitation enterprise, one count of production of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography, one count of cyberstalking, two counts of aggravated identity theft and five counts of wire fraud. The defendant is scheduled to make his initial court appearance today at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kyle F. Reardon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces between 20 years to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Anchorage Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force investigated the case, with support from the following agencies:
Alaska State Troopers; Anchorage Police Department; Royal Malaysia Police; Laramie Police Department (Wyoming); Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation; Wyoming Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force; Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office (Oregon); Mercer County Sheriff's Office (West Virginia); Raleigh County Sheriff's Office (West Virginia); Kanawha County Sheriff's Office (West Virginia); Guernsey County Sheriff's Department (Oregon); Clay County Sheriff's Office (Florida); Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office (Oregon); Homeland Security Investigations Wenatchee, Washington/Bend, Oregon; and the FBI Field Offices in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Denver, Detroit, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Newark, Oklahoma City, Pittsburgh, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City and Seattle.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Alaska thanks the Government of Malaysia, the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the FBI’s Law Enforcement Attaché in Kuala Lumpur for working collaboratively to secure Amin’s appearance in the District of Alaska.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Alexander and Jennifer Ivers are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Three Southeast fishermen charged with intentionally sinking fishing boats in Alaskan watersRead the Press Release
JUNEAU, Alaska – Three Southeast Alaska fishermen were charged through separate criminal information filings last month with allegedly intentionally sinking their respective fishing boats in waters near Sitka and Petersburg, Alaska. Federal law prohibits the deliberate sinking of a vessel that obstructs navigable waters.
According to court documents filed relating to three separate incidents, the following occurred in navigable waters of the U.S.:
- On March 8, 2025, John Fisher, 59, of Sitka, intentionally sunk the F/V Igloo into the Sitka Sound;
- On Aug. 3, 2025, Joseph Poling, 40, of Petersburg, intentionally sunk the F/V Leeward into Thomas Bay;
- Between Sept. 28 and Oct. 3, 2025, Toni Vanveen, 65, of Sitka, intentionally sunk the F/V O’kisutch into the Sitka Harbor.
Each defendant is charged with one count of obstruction of navigable waters by sinking a vessel. If convicted, Fisher, Poling and Vanveen each face a mandatory minimum of 30 days and up to one year in federal prison, and a fine of up to $25,000 per day for every day the sunken vessel remains in the water. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman of the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Paul Schultz of the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service Northwest Field Office made the announcement.
The U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service is investigating the cases, with assistance from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Environmental Crimes Unit.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen M. Speer (U.S. Coast Guard) is prosecuting the case with the support of Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Leader of Anchorage drug trafficking organization sentenced to 30 yearsRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage man was sentenced today to 30 years in prison for leading a local drug trafficking organization responsible for attempting to traffic large amounts of fentanyl and heroin to Alaska from the Lower 48.
According to court documents, Marcelino Juarez, 31, led a conspiracy to purchase fentanyl and heroin in California and transport the substances to Alaska through the mail or in checked airline baggage. Marcelino Juarez conspired with his brother, Julio Juarez, 33, of Anchorage, Shane Murphy, 43, of Wasilla, Semaj Brown, 35, of Anchorage, Brandon Garrett, 46, of Anchorage, and Gustavo Sebastian Lopez-Chavez, 25, a Mexican national illegally residing in the U.S.
Marcelino Juarez, Julio Juarez, Brown and Murphy all traveled between Alaska and California on multiple occasions to obtain drugs and contributed money toward drug purchase trips. The Juarez brothers and Brown had connections to California and were identified as known gang members by the Stockton Police Department in California.
Court documents explain that Marcelino Juarez was identified as a drug supplier in Anchorage as early as September 2022. On Sept. 13, 2022, law enforcement officials executed a search warrant on a trailer in Anchorage that Marcelino Juarez was living in. Law enforcement seized over $71,000 in cash and a Draco AK style pistol with a loaded magazine from the trailer.
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Alaska; U.S. vs. Juarez et al, Case #: 3:24-cr-00103Law enforcement’s investigation into the conspiracy culminated on Aug. 22, 2024, when agents with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) identified a suspicious parcel destined for a residence in Anchorage. On Aug. 26, 2024, law enforcement officials executed a search warrant on the parcel and seized over two kilograms of fentanyl powder from the package. Later that day, law enforcement officials conducted a controlled delivery of the parcel at the destined location. Marcelino Juarez was observed entering the residence, which belonged to a third-party, and leaving with the package in a vehicle with Brown. Marcelino Juarez and Brown met with another vehicle at a local gas station before both vehicles were contacted by law enforcement through traffic stops. Marcelino Juarez was arrested during the traffic stop, and Garrett, who was an occupant in the other vehicle, was detained.
Through further investigation, law enforcement also discovered that Brown and Murphy flew from Anchorage to Los Angeles to purchase heroin and fentanyl from multiple sources between July 3 and 5, 2024. Law enforcement later determined that one of the sources was Lopez-Chavez.
On July 6, 2024, law enforcement at the Los Angeles International Airport seized roughly one kilogram of heroin and two kilograms of fentanyl powder from a checked bag destined for Anchorage. When Murphy and Brown arrived in Alaska, they noted that the suitcase did not arrive.
U.S. Attorneys Office, District of Alaska; U.S. vs. Juarez et al. Case #: 3:24-cr-00103 U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Alaska; U.S. vs. Juarez et al, Case #: 3:24-cr-00103On Nov. 14, 2024, the FBI arrested Lopez-Chavez in Los Angeles. He was found to be in possession of roughly 23 kilograms of fentanyl, U.S. currency and counterfeit immigration documents.
In total, law enforcement seized at least 36 kilograms of fentanyl and roughly 10 kilograms of heroin connected to the drug trafficking conspiracy. According to court documents in this case, the price for fentanyl in Alaska, specifically, can be 10, 50 or 100 times the cost to buy powder or pills in California, making drug trafficking from the Lower 48 a lucrative business.
U.S. Attorneys Office, District of Alaska; U.S. vs. Juarez et al. Case #: 3:24-cr-00103 U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Alaska; U.S. vs. Juarez et al, Case #: 3:24-cr-00103“The Juarez brothers were driven by greed and moved to Alaska to profit from and exploit people’s vulnerabilities,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman. “They made a mistake in thinking they could target Alaskans. Now, they will face the consequences. This case is a great example of the incredible partnerships Alaskan law enforcement agencies foster to share resources and make an impact on an issue that directly impacts our state.”
“The Juarez brothers, along with their co-conspirators, are known California gangsters who moved to Alaska for the sole purpose of trafficking fentanyl and other dangerous drugs,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “In this collaborative, multi-agency investigation spanning from California to Alaska, FBI Anchorage and our HIDTA law enforcement partners not only interdicted significant quantities of drugs intended for distribution, but also removed these dangerous traffickers from our streets, protecting both Alaskans and Californians.”
On July 28, 2025, Marcelino Juarez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. In handing down the sentence, the Court also ordered Marcelino Juarez to pay a $50,000 fine and serve 20 years on supervised release upon completion of his custodial sentence.
Additional information for each co-defendant is as follows:
- On July 17, 2025, Julio Juarez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. On Jan. 8, 2026, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison to be followed by 15 years of supervised release. He is also required to pay a $40,000 fine.
- On April 10, 2025, Murphy pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 12, 2026.
- On July 21, 225, Brown pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. On Jan. 15, 2026, he was sentenced to nine years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.
- On July 31, 2025, Garrett pleaded guilty to one count of attempted possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 15, 2026.
- One June 16, 2025, Lopez-Chavez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. On Jan. 20, 2026, he was sentenced to two and a half years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.
The FBI Anchorage Field Office and the Alaska High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Mat-Su Narcotics Team investigated this case. Special assistance was provided by HIDTA’s Southcentral Area-wide Narcotics Team (SCAN), Fairbanks Area-wide Narcotics Team (FANT), and Anchorage Airport Interdiction Team (AAIT); U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), FBI Los Angeles Field Office, FBI Sacramento Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS CI), U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Los Angeles Special Response Team, Los Angeles Police Department, Stockton Police Department, and California Highway Patrol. The Anchorage Police Department and Alaska State Troopers also provided assistance as part of the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Bradley, Jack Schmidt, and Bill Reed are prosecuting the case.
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Kodiak man sentenced to 20 years for role in 2022 fatal fentanyl overdoseRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Kodiak man was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute deadly drugs that resulted in a fatal overdose in August 2022.
While on pretrial release for state felony charges he committed in March 2022, Gerry Pugal, 38, agreed to receive and distribute drugs in Kodiak on behalf of a drug trafficking organization allegedly run by a California inmate serving a life sentence at the time.
Court documents detail that members of the drug trafficking organization would mail drugs to Pugal in Kodiak, and Pugal would then distribute the drugs to a series of lower-level dealers who worked for him. Ashley Katelnikoff, 38, and Kalani Coyle, 33, were two dealers working for Pugal.
On Aug. 25, 2022, a male victim messaged Katelnikoff that he was in town. Katelnikoff responded asking, “You need anything?” They messaged about purchasing drugs, specifically “blues,” which is a slang term for M-30 fentanyl pills. Katelnikoff agreed to sell the victim five pills for $300. Later that evening, Katelnikoff sold the pills to the victim after picking him up at a local hotel he was staying at.
Around 4 a.m. on Aug. 26, the victim’s mother discovered his body in their hotel room bathroom. Investigators found evidence that the victim used some of the blue pills. Lab testing confirmed the victim had a lethal amount of fentanyl in his bloodstream.
Court documents further explain that months after the fatal overdose, Pugal continued dealing drugs for the organization. On Oct. 23, 2022, Kodiak Police officers responded to Pugal’s residence to execute an arrest warrant following a petition to revoke his state supervision. They searched the house and found Pugal hiding in the refrigerator in possession of fentanyl pills and methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Alaska. U.S. v. Katelnikoff et. al. Case #3:25-cr-00005Pugal was arrested and later released by the state on bond.
On Nov. 21, 2022, U.S. Postal Inspectors identified a suspicious parcel shipped from California to Kodiak. Inspectors obtained a search warrant for the parcel and discovered over 880 grams of methamphetamine, over 50 grams of cocaine and almost 5,000 fentanyl pills. These drugs had a street value of over $500,000. Agents seized the drugs and replaced them with a tracking device.
Roughly a week later, law enforcement officers delivered the package to its intended address as part of the investigation. They observed co-defendant Coyle arrive in a vehicle, pick up the package and bring it back to his trailer. Later that day, Coyle transferred the package to Pugal’s residence. Pugal instructed Coyle to take the package somewhere else and open it to make sure they were not being “set up.” Coyle opened the package in a different location and discovered the tracking device. Coyle returned to Pugal’s residence with the device before officers entered to detain both defendants.
On Oct. 28, 2025, Pugal pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in death. During sentencing, the Court also ordered Pugal to serve the rest of his life on supervised release upon completion of his custodial sentence.
“Mr. Pugal recruited those close to him to do his dirty work and profited off the vulnerable population in Kodiak with zero regard for consequences or for the rule of law. Now, he will spend the next two decades behind bars,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “This case is a tragic reminder of the phrase, ‘One Pill Can Kill,’ because it is likely that one pill originating from Mr. Pugal had just enough fentanyl in it to kill this victim.”
“Fentanyl traffickers like Mr. Pugal make a profit by peddling poison and while he distributed the fentanyl that led to a fatal overdose, that didn’t stop him, he continued dealing drugs,” said Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “The sentence today shows these actions have grave consequences and Mr. Pugal will not be a threat to the health and safety of our community for many years. DEA remains unwavering in our commitment to saving American lives and making America Fentanyl Free.”
Co-defendants in this case are as follows:
- Katelnikoff, of Kodiak, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances resulting in death on Aug. 4, 2025. Katelnikoff is scheduled to be sentenced on April 2, 2026.
- Coyle, of Kodiak, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute on July 2, 2025. Coyle was sentenced to five years in federal prison on Nov. 20, 2025.
The DEA Seattle Division Office and Anchorage District Office investigated the case, with significant assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Anchorage Domicile, IRS Criminal Investigation Seattle Field Office, Alaska State Troopers and the Kodiak Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alana Weber, Chris Schroeder and Stephan Collins prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of drug trafficking and violent crime.
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Anchorage man sentenced to 14 years for drug trafficking, firearms crimesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage man was sentenced last week to 14 years in prison for trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl and for possessing a firearm as a felon.
According to court documents, prior to the charged conduct, Christopher Nickalaskey, 34, had one state felony drug conviction and one 2017 federal conviction for possessing a firearm as a felon. In that case, Nickalaskey instigated a violent altercation with APD officers, pulling a loaded firearm during the struggle. Nickalaskey was sentenced to four years in federal prison for his conduct in the 2017 case.
On Sept. 7, 2023, Nickalaskey possessed two pistols and a backpack containing over a kilogram of methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Alaska, U.S. v. Nickalaskey, Case #: 2:24-cr-00026Nickalaskey planned to sell those drugs, as he received text messages asking about them on the day he was arrested.
Nickalaskey was later released on state bail.
On Oct. 1, 2023, APD received information that Nickalaskey was trespassing and possibly armed. APD arrived on scene and tried to pat down Nickalaskey, but he resisted, pulled out a gun and dropped to the floor. He struggled with several APD officers who were trying to tase and disarm him. The gun went off, and the bullet passed through Nickalaskey’s hip before hitting an APD officer in the knee. After the gun went off, an APD sergeant managed to pull the gun from Nickalaskey’s hand, but only after he bit the sergeant’s finger forcefully. Both officers recovered despite the serious injuries Nickalaskey caused.
In handing down the sentence, the Court also ordered Nickalaskey to serve 10 years on supervised release upon release from prison. The Court noted the defendant’s serious criminal history, including prior drug-related and violent convictions, when delivering the sentence.
“Mr. Nickalaskey is a repeat and dangerous criminal,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman of the District of Alaska. “His lawlessness peaked when he brandished a prohibited weapon and injured two dedicated Anchorage police officers, earning himself 14 years behind bars. My office takes the threat of repeat, undeterred offenders seriously and will ensure they face the full weight of the law.”
“The defendant’s crimes involved drug trafficking, illegal possession of firearms, and acts of violence against law enforcement in our community – none of which will be tolerated by the FBI,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Those who commit such crimes will be removed from our streets and met with decisive justice.”
“APD is grateful to all parties involved in the curtailing of drugs and illegal firearms within the community,” said Anchorage Police Department Chief Sean Case. “This decision by the court continues to send the strong message that APD and our Federal partners are committed to keeping our streets and communities safe. APD would also like to thank the FBI for helping during this investigation. Our partnership reflects the highest standards of law enforcement services provided in Anchorage.”
The FBI Anchorage Field Office and Anchorage Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Ivers and Mac Caille Petersson prosecuted the case.
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Anchorage man arrested in Juneau, charged with sex trafficking and other child exploitation offensesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The FBI arrested an Anchorage man today in Juneau after a federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging him with sex trafficking children, sexual exploitation of children-production of child pornography, coercion and enticement of children and receipt of child pornography.
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of AlaskaAccording to public court documents, Craig Scott Valdez, 36, used the popular social media application Snapchat to identify, groom and entice juvenile females in Alaska for the purposes of sexual exploitation. The indictment charges this conduct in relation to one minor victim from an incident occurring in October 2025, but Valdez is believed to have victimized or attempted to victimize other juveniles in Anchorage and Juneau. Valdez is a current state employee working in Anchorage and Juneau.
Valdez is charged with one count of Sex Trafficking of Children in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1591; one count of Sexual Exploitation of Children (Production of Child Pornography) in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251; one count of Coercion and Enticement of Children in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2242(b); and one count of Receipt of Child Pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A. The defendant will make his initial court appearance on Feb. 23, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kyle F. Reardon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces between 15 years to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Anchorage Field Office and the Anchorage Police Department are investigating this case as part of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. If anyone has information concerning Valdez’s alleged actions or may have encountered someone using the name “Craig Scott Valdez” or usernames “NONAME20233132” or “DOCHANK” in person or online, please contact the FBI Anchorage Field Office at (907) 276-4441 or anonymously at tips.fbi.gov.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
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