District of Alaska
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Goose Creek Correctional Center Officer Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy and Bribery ChargesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A correctional officer at Goose Creek Correctional Center (GCCC) pleaded guilty to conspiracy and bribery charges for smuggling contraband into the prison in Wasilla, Alaska.
According to court documents, Angela Lincoln, 43, was a correctional officer at the Alaska Department of Corrections (DOC) facility from 2014 through mid-2020. Beginning in about 2019 she began smuggling contraband into GCCC including Suboxone strips and cell phones for an inmate who is serving a 100-year sentence. The inmate distributed the drugs within the prison and paid tens of thousands of dollars in bribe payments to Lincoln.
With support from his family members and non-inmate associates, who he called “grinders,” this inmate secretly arranged to deliver the contraband and cash payments to Lincoln. His associates would secretly visit Lincoln’s home and drop the contraband and bribe payments near her fence while no one was looking. They would hide the controlled substances inside books, plastic bottles or candy wrappers to avoid suspicion when dropping the package at the fence. Lincoln would then smuggle the contraband into Goose Creek using her official position to evade security screening, knowing that doing so was in violation of her official duties and knowing that she would be paid in exchange for delivering the contraband and drugs inside GCCC. To deliver the bribe payments to Lincoln, the “grinders” would launder the funds and hide cash in phony trinkets, greeting cards and stuffed animals. Lincoln continued to conceal the conspiracy when initially questioned by FBI agents, falsely reporting that the money was payments for old DVDs, video games and an old meat grinder. None of that was true, and the payments were really bribes paid in exchange for her smuggling efforts.
As a correctional officer she was required to protect inmates and staff by, among other things, ensuring that contraband – including drugs and cell phones – did not enter or remain in the facility where inmates could access them.
Goose Creek Correctional Center is an Alaska DOC-run medium-security prison for men located in Wasilla, Alaska. The facility houses up to approximately 1,300 inmates and employs approximately 333 staff members.
Lincoln’s sentencing hearing has not yet been set. She faces a maximum penalty of fifteen years in prison for the bribery and conspiracy charges. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case with valuable assistance provided by the Alaska Department of Corrections.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Allen, Kelly Cavanaugh and Ryan Tansey are prosecuting the case.
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Anchorage Man Charged for Violating Marine Mammal Protection ActRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – An Anchorage man is charged by information on two counts of wildlife trafficking misdemeanors.
According to court documents, Uzi Levi, 70, of Anchorage purchased six non-handicrafted Pacific walrus tusks and one three-tusked non-handicrafted Pacific walrus head mount from an undercover U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agent, all of which is in violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, it is unlawful for a non-Alaskan native to transport, purchase, sell, export or offer to purchase, sell or export any marine mammal or marine mammal product for any purpose other than public display, scientific research or enhancing the survival of a species or stock or any marine mammal part that has not been made into an authentic native article of handicraft.
In June 2020, a special agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service observed what appeared to be an Alaskan Native male carrying a two-tusked, non-handicrafted walrus head mount into the car rental business office owned by Levi and then leave without it. A few weeks later, an undercover U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agent went to Levi’s car rental business and inquired about renting a vehicle. He explained that he didn’t have a lot of money and asked if there were other ways to rent a vehicle, such as trade or barter. The unidentified person at the business called Levi and handed the phone to the undercover agent. During this call and over the next eight months, Levi and the agent exchanged numerous phone calls and texts about the purchase of non-handicrafted walrus ivory, which resulted in Levi purchasing six non-handicrafted Pacific walrus tusks on July 13, 2020, and one non-handicrafted, three tusked walrus head mount on September 29, 2020
Levi is scheduled to make his initial court appearance on December 6, 2021, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew M. Scoble of the U.S. District Court for Alaska. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steve Skrocki and Yunah Chung are prosecuting the case.
Fairbanks Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Stalking and Murder for Hire PlotRead the Press Release
FAIRBANKS – A Fairbanks man was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison and three years of supervised release by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Ralph R. Beistline for stalking and attempting to arrange a murder for hire.
According to court documents and evidence presented at his sentencing, Roger Keeling, 55, devised and solicited a murder for hire plot targeting his former girlfriend while he was in custody on stalking charges. He was indicted in January 2021 and found guilty by a federal jury in August 2021.
At sentencing, the United States underscored the physical, emotional and mental abuse suffered by Keeling’s former girlfriend. In both her testimony and her victim impact statement, she described the terrifying and traumatic ordeal. As she became increasingly frightened by Keeling’s actions and mental state, she left him. He tried winning her back but when that didn’t work, his anger began to consume him as he stalked her and found someone to murder her.
In October 2020 Keeling placed his hands around his girlfriend’s neck, told her he should rip her heart out and threatened to burn her house down. Keeling pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge in state court. The victim applied for and was granted a Domestic Violence Protective Order (DVPO) and it was served on Keeling before his release on the assault charges. Over the next six weeks, Keeling was arrested – and released by the state court – for violating this DVPO multiple times in an escalating pattern that included following the victim, slashing her tires, sending dozens of threatening emails from various “disguised” email accounts and planting disturbing handwritten notes along her usual running route.
Keeling was arrested for stalking the victim in December 2020. While in custody, Keeling told his cellmate he wanted to find someone to harm his girlfriend. During the next few days, Keeling agreed to pay his cellmate $1,500 to arrange for a hitman to kill her, and after being released by a state court judge, he made an initial payment of $500. During a search of Keeling’s home, Alaska State Troopers and the Federal Bureau of Investigation found numerous notes and documents confirming the existence of the plot, as well as multiple documents and drawings created by Mr. Keeling that showed his desire to see her harmed, including a hand-drawn picture of her home in flames.
“While no sentence can atone for the sense of security his victim lost, she no longer has to live in fear always looking over her back and worried about her personal safety,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson, District of Alaska. “Every citizen has the right to feel safe as they go about their daily life and we will continue to seek justice for victims of such appalling acts.”
"This investigation and disruption of Mr. Keeling's deadly plot should serve as a reminder that the FBI and our partners will vigorously hold those accountable who plan such actions," said Antony Jung, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. "Soliciting a murder for hire is a federal crime, and the defendant will now spend the next 12 years in federal prison."
The Alaska State Troopers, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fairbanks Police Department conducted the investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Doty and Ryan Tansey prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Domestic violence is a crime. If you are a victim of domestic violence or know someone who is, it is normal to feel scared, helpless and vulnerable. You are not alone. Help is available through local and state police departments as well as through national entities such as the Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
During a search of Roger Keeling’s home, Alaska State Troopers and the Federal Bureau of Investigation found numerous notes and documents confirming the existence of the murder for hire plot, as well as multiple documents and drawings created by Mr. Keeling that showed his desire to see his former girlfriend harmed, including a hand-drawn picture of her home in flames.Kotzebue Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Incessant StalkingRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A Kotzebue man was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sharon L. Gleason to seven years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for cyberstalking two individuals who were carrying out their professional responsibilities to protect a child from abuse or neglect.
According to court documents, Louis Holger Eklund, 41, relentlessly stalked and threatened two victims and their family members for nearly three years causing them to fear being attacked in their homes and seriously harmed. The victims are an attorney with the Alaska Attorney General’s office and the then-President of the Native Village of Kotzebue. Following a report from the Alaska Office of Child Services that Eklund had abandoned his infant son, the victims followed their professional responsibilities initiating the Child in Need of Aid (CINA) proceedings. Since the CINA proceeding involved an Alaska Native child, the Native Village of Kotzebue became involved per the Indian Child Welfare Act.
Eklund caused extreme emotional distress to both victims through dozens of phone calls, voicemails and emails in an effort to intimidate their conduct in the proceedings and retaliate against the work they had already done. Even after his indictment and arrest and while trial was pending, Eklund made it clear that he believed his crimes were justified by the victims’ actions and that the laws did not apply to him. Eklund also has a criminal history and a pattern of violence, violating court orders and actively resisting law enforcement.
Eklund is the second person to recently be sentenced for terrorizing people working in child protection. In March, the U.S. District Court sentenced Peter Lee Norris, also known as Bjorn Erik Happaniemi, to nine years in prison for stalking and threatening an Office of Children’s Services case worker, her attorney and an FBI agent who investigated the case.
“The defendant’s incessant harassment and threats to both victims and their family members was terrifying,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson, District of Alaska. “There is perhaps no higher calling than protecting children who may be in harm’s way. Stalking and threatening these individuals for carrying out their professional responsibilities is detestable and a criminal act for which we will always seek justice.”
“Using online tools to scare and disrupt their daily lives, the defendant tormented and caused substantial distress to both victims, who were merely fulfilling their professional responsibilities,” said Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “In Alaska, no one should feel unsafe in their own home, workplace or community, and the FBI will continue to hold accountable those who engage in such conduct.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonas Walker prosecuted the case.
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Alaska Wildlife Trooper Agrees to Resign and Permanently Relinquish Law Enforcement Credentials for Making False Statements to the FAARead the Press Release
FAIRBANKS – An Alaska Wildlife Trooper has entered into an agreement with the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Alaska to resolve investigations into false and misleading statements he made to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2019.
According to the agreement and other court proceedings, Timothy Abbott, 39, of North Pole, Alaska, has agreed to permanently resign from the Alaska Wildlife Troopers and to relinquish his law enforcement credentials based on conduct surrounding his personal acquisition and registration of an aircraft.
In November 2019, Abbott, then an Alaska Wildlife Trooper, submitted an application to the FAA to register a Kitfox Series 5 airplane. In the application, Abbott submitted a bill of sale to transfer the title of the aircraft to himself in exchange for $1.00 based on the signature of a previous owner of the aircraft, David Miller. Abbott falsely represented to the FAA that Miller had the authority to sell the aircraft. He did not disclose to the FAA that Miller had previously sold the aircraft to another individual more than 10 years ago and no longer had any personal ownership interest in the airplane. After Abbott removed the aircraft from its location at Clear Airport (PACL) Alaska, the actual owner of the aircraft contacted the Alaska State Troopers and reported the aircraft as stolen. During the investigation into the theft, Abbott contacted the Troopers and returned the aircraft to Clear Airport.
“Making false statements to a federal agency is against the law no matter who you are or who you work for,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson, District of Alaska. “There is no excuse for those who deceive federal regulators for the sake of personal gain. To anyone contemplating providing false information to a federal agency, know that the Justice Department will pursue the facts and hold you accountable.”
“We take any allegation of criminal wrongdoing by an Alaska Wildlife Trooper very seriously and will take appropriate steps to hold that Trooper accountable through the criminal justice system,” said Colonel Doug Massie, Director of the Alaska Wildlife Troopers. “I would like to thank our partners at the FBI and US Attorney’s Office for their careful review of this case and bringing it to a resolution. We know that the public places a lot of trust in the Troopers that work across our great state. This was a very unfortunate incident, but the Alaska Department of Public Safety maintains a very high standard for our Alaska State and Wildlife Troopers and that includes conduct that takes place both on and off duty. We are committed to restoring any trust that was lost by the actions of this Trooper and working consistently to meet our mission of ensuring public safety and enforcing fish and wildlife laws.”
Abbott appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott A. Oravec and agreed to the terms of the agreement. If Abbott violates the agreement, he could face a felony conviction for making a false statement to the FAA, which carries up to three years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. If Abbott abides by the terms of the agreement, the United States has agreed to dismiss the charges against him.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Alaska State Troopers (AST) are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Tansey is prosecuting the case.
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Anchorage Businessman Agrees to Pay $397,990 for COVID-Relief Loan FraudRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – An Anchorage businessman has entered into a global resolution with the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Alaska to resolve federal investigations into his fraudulently obtaining $164,000 in small business loans and advances under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The global resolution includes a criminal non-prosecution agreement and civil settlement agreement.
According to the settlement documents, Robert Gross, 65, submitted fraudulent and misleading information to obtain Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL) loans and advances, a source of relief under the CARES Act. While applying for the EIDL program between April 6 and September 3, 2020, Gross made false statements about the revenue, number of employees and related wages of the six entities in which he had ownership interests, specifically:
- Glacier State Services, Inc.
- Bistro IT, LLC
- RB Enterprises, LLC
- Meritage Management Co.
- AK Denali Group, LLC
- 32 Mile Investments, LLC.
As part of the criminal non-prosecution agreement, Gross admitted making fraudulent statements and agreed to terms in lieu of criminal prosecution. In the civil settlement agreement, Gross agreed to repay the loans in full, plus damages in the amount of $242,990 to the United States.
“During a global pandemic, the defendant took advantage of aid programs designed as a lifeline providing critical relief for hardworking people in our communities impacted by COVID,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson, District of Alaska. “Our office is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable individuals who exploit the CARES Act.”
“Making false statements to fraudulently gain access to SBA program funds is deplorable,” said SBA Office of Inspector General’s Western Region Special Agent in Charge Weston King. “SBA OIG will relentlessly 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 for its leadership and dedication to pursuing justice.”
“While small businesses across the nation, including here in Alaska, continue to suffer due to the ongoing pandemic, the defendant chose to exploit the relief programs designed to help businesses in time of need,” said Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “The FBI and our federal partners will continue to work closely to detect and hold accountable those who take advantage of public health emergencies.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Office of Inspector General, Western Regional Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Fonstad and Michael Heyman prosecuted the case.
Anyone with information about attempted fraud involving COVID-Relief can report it to the Department of Justice by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or filing an online complaint form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The EIDL program is designed to provide economic relief to small businesses that are experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. EIDL program funds can be used to cover a wide array of working capital and normal operating expenses. The CARES Act was enacted on March 27, 2020, to provide emergency assistance to individuals, families and businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Among other things the CARES Act simplified the EIDL program application process and allocated additional funding to the EIDL program.
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Alaska Man Arrested on Federal Charges for Threatening U.S. SenatorsRead the Press Release
FAIRBANKS – A Delta Junction, Alaska, man was arrested Monday in Fairbanks on criminal charges related to his alleged threats against U.S. Senators. The charging documents were filed on October 1, 2021, and have now been unsealed.
According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Jay Allen Johnson, 65, left a voicemail message on September 2, 2021, at the Washington D.C. office of a U.S. Senator containing several threats, including a threat to “burn” the Senator’s properties. The investigation revealed that the call originated in Delta Junction from a cellular telephone number linked to Johnson. On September 29, Johnson left another voicemail threatening to hire an assassin to kill the U.S. Senator. Johnson also left threatening voicemail messages for a second U.S. Senator between April 2021 and September 2021.
Johnson is charged with threatening United States officials with intent to intimidate the officials while engaged in the performance of official duties; making interstate threats; and interstate threat to damage property by means of fire or an explosive. The defendant is scheduled for an arraignment and detention hearing today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott Oravec of the U.S. District Court for Alaska.
If convicted, Johnson faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison for the most serious charges. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson of the District of Alaska and Antony Jung, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Alaska Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Capitol Police are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Tansey is prosecuting the case.
A 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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Kasilof Man Indicted for Making Interstate Death ThreatsRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging a Kasilof, Alaska, man with five counts of making interstate threats and one count of cyberstalking for making death threats from Alaska to individuals in other states.
According to court documents, Benjamin Tarbell, 34, began making death threats against individuals in Vermont and other states in August 2021. The threats, which continued to escalate through early September, were made via text messages, Instagram messages and telephone calls. Tarbell moved from Vermont to Alaska around April 2021.
Tarbell was arrested by the FBI on a federal complaint on September 10 at the Kenai Municipal Airport as he was checking in for his flight to Vermont with a rifle, two handguns, ammunition, two knives and a tactical vest.
The defendant made his initial court appearance on September 14 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew M. Scoble of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. Tarbell is in federal custody and will remain detained pending trial.
If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of five years each for counts 1 through 5, and a maximum of ten years in prison for count 6. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case with support from the Alaska State Troopers, Vermont State Police and the Massachusetts State Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman 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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Eagle River Man Arrested on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – An Eagle River man was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking Task Force on a federal complaint for child pornography offenses.
According to court documents, Daniel Brooks, 51, is charged by information with violations related to the alleged possession of and access with intent to view child pornography. As detailed in the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, the case first came to the attention of the FBI when the chief security officer where Brooks worked reported the discovery of numerous jpeg images of suspected child pornography. The FBI executed a federal search warrant at Brooks’ home for computer related devices. During an interview with FBI agents, Brooks admitted to having over 1,000 images of child pornography on a drive connected to his work computer.
If the public has any further information regarding Brook’s activities, please contact the FBI Anchorage Field Office at
(907) 276-4441.
The FBI’s Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking Task Force, conducted the investigation leading to Brook’s arrest.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information. please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A criminal complaint or information 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 Men Charged for Illegally Leaving the Brooks Falls Viewing Platform and Wading into the Brooks RiverRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – Three men have been federally charged for illegally leaving the Brooks Falls viewing platform and entering a closed area of the Brooks River at Brooks Falls, Katmai National Park on August 9, 2018. The men are all charged with creating a hazardous condition in a closed area and approaching within 50 yards of brown bears.
The information alleges that David Engelman, 56, of Sandia Park, New Mexico, and Ronald J. Engelman II, 54, and Steven Thomas, 30, both of King Salmon, Alaska, left the authorized Brooks Falls viewing platform and waded into the Brooks River below Brooks Falls. The three men created a hazardous condition as brown bears were feeding on the falls and in the Brooks River just below the falls. As they waded into the Brooks River the three men came within 50 yards of the brown bears.
If convicted, they each face a maximum penalty of six months in prison, a $5,000 fine and a year of probation. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Katmai National Park and Preserve in southwestern Alaska protects over 4 million acres of land and coastal resources including the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes and the Brooks River area which is particularly notable for a rich habitat that supports one of the world’s highest concentrations of salmon and brown bears. The park and preserve also protects 9,000 years of human history integrated on the landscape and offers unique opportunities to explore vast wilderness and immense volcanoes, watch brown bears, fish for salmon and trout, and many other activities.
The National Park Service is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Skrocki is prosecuting the case.
The charges in the information are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Multi-Agency Investigation Results in Indictment and Arrest of "Drug Kingpin" Associated with the Sinaloa Cartel Operating in Sonora, MexicoRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – Miguel Baez Guevara, 38, a United States citizen living in Mexico, was indicted by a federal grand jury on 17 counts related to his leadership role in trafficking narcotics directly from Mexico to Alaska. Guevara was arrested by Mexican immigration authorities from the Instituto Nacional de Migración in Sonora, Mexico, on Friday, September 10, and deported to the United States. U.S. Law Enforcement arrested Guevara upon his arrival in Arizona. He pleaded not guilty Tuesday in federal court in Phoenix, Arizona. He will remain detained pending his transfer to Alaska.
According to the recently unsealed indictment, beginning in 2016 Guevara’s organization operated to import heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine directly from Mexico to Alaska. Guevara claimed membership in, and association with, the Sinaloa Cartel. Guevara’s network specifically targeted Alaska because they received higher profits for the illegal drugs due to Alaska’s significant distance from the Mexican sources of supply.
Using social media and encrypted messaging applications, Guevara’s network recruited drug couriers who lived in Alaska. The couriers were promised money or drugs in exchange for traveling to Mexico to collect the narcotics for transport back to Alaska. Couriers were required to submit photos of their driver’s license and other personal information. Guevara made it known he was associated with the Sinaloa Cartel and there were serious and violent repercussions for couriers who stole narcotics or provided information to law enforcement. The couriers often traveled in small groups with an assigned team leader. Couriers typically carried about 250 grams of narcotics on each trip. Once the couriers arrived in Alaska a member of Guevara’s network, who was stationed in Alaska, paid them and collected the narcotics. Street level dealers in Alaska contacted Guevara who coordinated the sale between his Alaska workers and the local dealer. Guevara did not cross into the United States due to outstanding federal and state arrest warrants but conducted all operations from Mexico.
The Continuing Criminal Enterprise statute 21 U.S.C. § 848 is often referred to as the “Kingpin Statute.” The statute is designed to reach the top brass in drug trafficking organizations, and not the lieutenants and foot soldiers. The statute was enacted to target large-scale profit-making enterprises engaged in the illegal importation, manufacture and distribution of controlled substances. A conviction carries a mandatory life sentence.
The indictment and arrest are part of an ongoing, large scale drug trafficking investigation dubbed “Operation Albondiga” which has resulted in the arrest and criminal charges of 23 individuals since 2016.
The defendants (in alphabetical order) are as follows:
- Jason Alto, 25, pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, sentenced January 18, 2017 to 20 months imprisonment.
- Chinaya Begay, 26, pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, sentenced August 12, 2021 to time served (13 months).
- Mario Burgueno, 36, pleaded guilty in the District of Arizona to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Heroin, sentenced June 12, 2019 to 120 months imprisonment.
- Dana Dwyer, 45, pleaded guilty to Felon in Possession of Firearms, sentencing scheduled for January 10, 2022.
- Travon Grays, 28, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, sentenced March 2, 2021 to 37 months imprisonment.
- Jessica Hannah, 26, pleaded guilty to Attempted Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances, sentenced June 7, 2021 to time served (7 months).
- Zanders Herndon, 39, pleaded guilty to Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, sentenced August 6, 2018 to 54 months imprisonment.
- Eva Houser, 38, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances, sentenced January 3, 2019 to 36 months imprisonment.
- David Garcia Johnson, 29, pleaded guilty to Distribution of a Controlled Substance, sentenced January 11, 2021 to 46 months imprisonment.
- April Krause, 36, pleaded guilty in the District of Arizona to Conspiracy to Possess Counterfeit Obligations and Sureties of the United States and Bringing in Counterfeit Obligations, sentenced October 18, 2018 to 13 months imprisonment.
- Katrina Lundy, 41, pleaded guilty to Attempted Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances, sentenced March 6, 2019 to 21 months imprisonment.
- Jarese Martinez, 28, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances, sentenced November 2, 2018 to 120 months imprisonment.
- Victor Mizugay-Gallego, 24, pleaded guilty to Attempted Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute, sentencing scheduled for October 6, 2021.
- Alicia Norvell, 33, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances, sentenced September 12, 2018 to time served (10 months).
- Mykki Orth, 55, pleaded guilty to Distribution of Controlled Substances, sentenced October 23, 2018 to 15 months imprisonment.
- Frances Pelch, 66, pleaded guilty to Attempted Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances, sentenced January 15, 2021 to 36 months imprisonment.
- Alicia Pierce, 27, pleaded guilty in the District of Arizona to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Heroin, sentenced May 23, 2019 to time served (10 months).
- Jackie Polzel, 34, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances, sentenced September 12, 2018 to 36 months imprisonment.
- Kelly Pretty, 35, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances, sentenced May 2, 2018 to 16 months imprisonment.
- Jody Schuyler, 55, pleaded guilty in the District of Arizona to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Heroin, sentenced May 21, 2019 to 12 months imprisonment.
- Audriel Soto, 25, pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, sentenced February 17, 2021 to 36 months imprisonment.
- Nicole Villa, 33, pleaded guilty in the District of Arizona to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Heroin, sentenced April 3, 2019 to time served (10 months).
- Casey Wells, 39, pleaded guilty in the District of Arizona to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Heroin, sentenced April 2, 2019 to time served (10 months).
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are leading the investigation with investigative support provided by Anchorage Police Department (APD), Homeland Security Investigations Sells, Arizona, Office (HSI), U.S. Customs & Border Patrol, the Alaska State Troopers (AST), Ted Stevens International Airport Police and the Alaska National Guard. We also want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona and law enforcement agencies in the State of Arizona for their invaluable help with this case and “Operation Albondiga.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Taylor, Allison O’Leary, and Chris Schroeder are prosecuting the case.
Operation Albondiga is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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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Anchorage Drug Dealer Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – An Anchorage man was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess to 15 years in federal prison followed by 10 years of supervised released for selling more than 500 grams or approximately 5,000 doses of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Dorian Topps, 28, pleaded guilty in October 2020 to five counts of trafficking a controlled substance. Topps was involved in selling large amounts of methamphetamine to an undercover agent on five separate occasions, between October 2019 and January 2020. On three of the occasions, Topps personally completed the sale with the agent and on two other occasions, he provided other individuals with the methamphetamine to sell to the undercover agent.
In 2016 Topps was convicted and sentenced to four years in federal prison on a drug trafficking charge. He was still on federal supervised release for that conviction when he sold the methamphetamine to the undercover agent.
Topps’ accomplices, Isaiah Cross, 28, and Kevin Glover, 38, each pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking a controlled substance. In separate hearings Cross was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release and Glover was sentenced to six years and six months in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release.
“The trail of destruction caused by the distribution of methamphetamine and other illicit drugs is devastating in our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson, District of Alaska. “These sentences demonstrate that the Department of Justice will use every weapon in its arsenal to stop methamphetamine from reaching our neighborhoods and harming our citizens.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Alaska State Troopers and the Anchorage Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison O’ Leary prosecuted the case.
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Naknek Man Indicted on Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A federal grand jury in Anchorage returned an indictment yesterday charging a Naknek, Alaska, man for possession and attempted possession of methamphetamine and heroin.
According to court documents, Kenneth Bruce Bishop, 61, arranged for an associate to fly from Anchorage to King Salmon, Alaska, with approximately 170 grams of methamphetamine and approximately 50 grams of heroin. Staff of a regional air carrier at Merrill Field Airport detected the illegal drugs during a routine screening on July 29, 2021, and the Anchorage Airport Interdiction Team intercepted the drugs.
On August 3, law enforcement conducted a controlled delivery of the illegal drugs via the U.S. Postal Service in King Salmon. After Bishop picked up the package at the local post office and drove away, Alaska State Troopers pulled him over and found the contents of the package on the floor of the truck. The seized narcotics have an estimated street value of $220,000 and included approximately 50 user doses of heroin and more than 1,700 user doses of methamphetamine.
Bishop is scheduled for his initial court appearance on August 23 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew M. Scoble of the U.S. District Court of Alaska. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson of the District of Alaska and Colonel Bryan Barlow, Director of the Alaska State Troopers made the announcement.
The Alaska State Troopers, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Anchorage Airport Interdiction Team, Alaska Wildlife Troopers and the Bristol Bay Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Yunah Chung 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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Fairbanks Man Convicted for Stalking and Murder for Hire PlotRead the Press Release
FAIRBANKS – A federal jury today convicted a Fairbanks man for stalking and attempting to arrange a murder for hire.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Roger Keeling, 55, devised and solicited a murder for hire plot targeting his former girlfriend while he was in custody on stalking charges.
In October 2020 Keeling placed his hands around his girlfriend’s neck, told her he should rip her heart out and threatened to burn her house down. Keeling pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge in state court. The victim applied for and was granted a Domestic Violence Protective Order (DVPO) and it was served on Keeling before his release on the assault charges. Over the next six weeks, Keeling was arrested – and released by the state court – for violating this DVPO multiple times in an escalating pattern that included following the victim, slashing her tires, sending dozens of threatening emails from various “disguised” email accounts and planting disturbing handwritten notes along her usual running route.
Keeling was arrested for stalking the victim in December 2020. While in custody, Keeling told his cellmate he wanted to find someone to harm his girlfriend. During the next few days, Keeling agreed to pay his cellmate $1,500 to arrange for a hitman to kill her, and after being released by a state court judge, he made an initial payment of $500. During a search of Keeling’s home, Alaska State Troopers and the Federal Bureau of Investigation found numerous notes and documents confirming the existence of the plot, as well as multiple documents and drawings created by Mr. Keeling that showed his desire to see her harmed, including a hand-drawn picture of her home in flames.
“Every citizen has the right to feel safe as they go about their daily life. With today’s conviction, the victim will no longer live in fear always looking over her back and worried about her personal safety,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson, District of Alaska.
“The Alaska State Troopers are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to keep the citizens of our great state safe,” said Colonel Bryan Barlow, Director of the Alaska State Troopers. “Investigations like these should serve as a warning to anyone considering soliciting a murder; the Alaska State Troopers and our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners will aggressively investigate and hold accountable anyone that perpetrates these unconscionable acts.”
Keeling faces up to a five year sentence on the stalking conviction and up to a 10 year sentence on the murder for hire conviction. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Alaska State Troopers, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fairbanks Police Department conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Doty and Ryan Tansey are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Anchorage Kidnapper and Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 50 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – An Anchorage man was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason to 50 years in prison for kidnapping and drug trafficking.
According to court documents, Macauther Christmas Vaifanua, 35, aka “Mac” and his brother, Faamanu Vaifanua, 31, aka “Junior” distributed heroin in the Anchorage area through the kidnapped victim between January 2015 and August 2017.
Believing that the victim had stolen from their residence, he was lured to Vaifanua’s home on August 13, 2017. As the victim was leaving the residence, he was led into the garage where he was forcibly bound and gagged. The victim was then beaten and tortured for nearly an hour by Vaifanua and his co-defendants in an assault that was captured on Vaifanua’s home video surveillance system. Vaifanua and his co-defendants used an aluminum baseball bat, a metal broom stick and their hands and feet to beat the defendant into unconsciousness, causing severe injuries and permanent disability. After a certain point, believing that the victim was either dead or near death, Vaifanua and his co-defendants then placed the victim inside a metal dog kennel while still bound and gagged.
Vaifanua and several of his co-defendants then threatened a person in the area at gunpoint to back his pickup truck to the garage door. The group loaded the kennel into the back of the truck with the victim still in it. The driver was told at gunpoint to leave and never be seen again. After driving away from the area, the driver stopped to see what had been loaded into his truck. Upon seeing the victim, he immediately drove to a hospital emergency room where the victim received life-saving medical attention including brain surgery.
Vaifanua pleaded guilty to federal kidnapping and drug trafficking charges in March 2020.
“This was not a random act of violence but a calculated act of savagery against another human being and a complete disregard for human life,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson, District of Alaska. “Mr. Vaifanua will serve the next five decades in federal prison where there is no possibility of parole. The citizens of Alaska will not tolerate drug trafficking and the violence that is an integral part of that activity. We will work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to ensure justice is served.”
“Such brutality and indifference to human life is unacceptable,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Adam Pierce of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “This vicious assault and kidnapping were criminal acts that happened in a residential neighborhood, a place where Alaskans should feel safe. Know that the FBI and our partners on the Safe Streets Task Force will always be relentless in our efforts to identify, locate and apprehend dangerous offenders who threaten the safety of our communities.”
“Violent crime will not be tolerated,” said Chief Kenneth McCoy with the Anchorage Police Department. “This investigation highlights the strength of our federal partnerships to keep violent offenders off the street.”
Co-defendants in this case are “Junior” Vaifanua, 35, Jeffrey Ahvan, 33, Rex Faumui, 28, and Tamole Lauina, 25. They are currently in custody awaiting their separate hearings.
The Anchorage Police Department (APD), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephan A. Collins and Adam Alexander prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Two Fairbanks Drug Dealers Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
FAIRBANKS – A Fairbanks man was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Ralph R. Beistline to more than eight years (97 months) in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release for the possession of heroin and fentanyl with the intent distribute those drugs.
According to court documents, Michael Miller, 35, aka “Smiles,” and his co-defendant Araka Taylor, 37, were indicted in October 2020 on multiple drug charges. In March 2021, Miller and Taylor pleaded guilty to trafficking heroin and fentanyl in the Fairbanks area. In a separate hearing, Taylor was sentenced to more than five years (65 months) in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release.
In May 2020 the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Alaska State Troopers (AST) began an investigation into the illegal distribution of narcotics in the Fairbanks area by an individual named “Smiles” who reportedly sold heroin that had caused multiple accidental overdoses. As part of the investigation, law enforcement purchased heroin from Miller through a confidential source on three separate occasions between May 27 and June 5, 2020. Laboratory analysis confirmed the presence of fentanyl in all of the heroin the defendant sold to the confidential source. The buyer requested only heroin from Miller – at no time did the buyer request fentanyl nor did Miller tell the buyer that the heroin contained fentanyl.
Miller was arrested on July 9, 2020 at his Fairbanks residence. Taylor fled back to her home state of Florida where she was later arrested by federal law enforcement. While executing the search warrant at the Fairbanks residence, law enforcement found more than $32,000 cash, 315.8 grams of heroin containing fentanyl, 100.5 grams of heroin, 4.1 grams of fentanyl transdermal patches, as well as drug ledgers, scales and other drug dealing paraphernalia.
After AST arrested Miller on July 9, 2020, reports of heroin overdoses declined substantially in the Fairbanks area. Specifically, in the three months prior to Miller and Taylor’s arrest (April 10, 2020 – July 10, 2020), the DEA Fairbanks Post received seven reports of drug overdoses – a dramatic increase for Fairbanks. By contrast in the nearly three months after Miller’s arrest and Taylor’s departure from Alaska, DEA Fairbanks received only one overdose report. Data recently released by the CDC reveals that over 92,000 people died last year as a result of drug overdoses in the United States which is a nearly 30 percent increase – the largest drug related deaths ever recorded in a 12-month period. Sixty-one percent of the overdose deaths nationwide involved synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. Fentanyl is approved by the FDA for treating pain, typically in advanced cancer patients, that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.
“Offenses involving fentanyl have increased at an alarming rate in recent years across the U.S. and in Alaska,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson, District of Alaska. “This case demonstrates the serious threat people face with fentanyl now being commonly hidden in a variety of illicit narcotics. Drug traffickers are on notice – we are committed to going after individuals who push fentanyl laced narcotics within our communities. We are determined to reduce the number of opioid overdoses in Alaska.”
“Saving lives and keeping our communities safe are top priorities of the Drug Enforcement Administration,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino. “This undercover investigation revealed these defendants were responsible for the distribution of heroin tainted with potentially deadly fentanyl. Investigations like this one illustrates the commitment and sense of urgency the men and women of DEA routinely demonstrate as they carry out their mission of enforcing the federal narcotic laws of the United States. We must continue to focus our valuable resources and leverage our much needed and well established partnerships with the United States Attorney’s Office and local, state, county and federal law enforcement agencies to stem the tide of the systemic and widespread abuse of opioids in our communities.”
“This sentencing exemplifies the commitment of Alaska’s law enforcement to getting illegal drugs off our streets and holding accountable those that are responsible,” said Lieutenant Michael Roberts, Deputy Commander of D Detachment, Alaska State Troopers. “These two were preying on our community and profiting off the sale of fentanyl laced heroin that was directly linked to multiple overdoses. Alaska State Troopers along with our local, state and federal partners will continue to work diligently to dismantle illegal drug operations in the interior and throughout the state.”
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Alaska State Troopers, Fairbanks Police Department and the North Pole Police Department investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Tansey prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Alaska’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). HIDTA was established in 2018 to enhance and coordinate efforts among local state and federal law enforcement agencies, providing equipment, technology and additional resources to combat drug trafficking and its harmful consequences in critical regions of Alaska.
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Anchorage Businessman Convicted and Sentenced for Walrus Ivory Trafficking and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – An Anchorage man was sentenced today to six months home confinement and more than $400,000 in fines and restitution for illegally trafficking in walrus ivory and failing to report business income to the IRS.
According to court documents, Walter Earl, 76, owner of The Antique Gallery, regularly trafficked in illegal walrus ivory for many years. On three separate occasions in 2017, Earl knowingly violated the Lacey Act by illegally purchasing and selling walrus ivory ‘head mounts’ (i.e. the skull and ivory tusks of a walrus) to undercover agents. In these unlawful sales, Earl tried to conceal the illegal nature of his activities by falsifying documents and lying to purchasers about the ivory’s source, stating the ivory was legal to purchase and sell due to its age and claiming he was legally allowed to purchase the walrus ivory because he employed Alaska Natives. In addition to those illegal sales and lies, the investigation uncovered that Earl had illegally purchased more than 50 walrus tusks, which he kept as inventory for future illegal sales.
Separately, the investigation revealed that Earl intentionally failed to file individual income tax returns for the years 2013 through 2017. Earl’s gross income included income from his antique business which totaled $679,245 for the five-year period. To avoid creating records of revenue and income, Earl kept inadequate business records, primarily used cash and structured transactions at various financial institutions to sidestep banking reporting requirements. He also instructed his employees not to report the income they earned.
Earl pleaded guilty to three felony wildlife trafficking counts under the federal Lacey Act and one count of tax evasion. As part of his sentence, the court ordered Earl to pay $185,000 in fines and $216,054 in restitution to the IRS for back taxes owed. The court also ordered Earl to forfeit 50 walrus tusks and other illegal marine mammal parts to the United States.
“This joint investigation revealed and recovered all the illicit profits from an underground operation trafficking in one of Alaska’s unique marine resources, the North Pacific Walrus,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson, District of Alaska. “In addition to this illegal enterprise, the investigation uncovered the failure of a businessman to perform what millions of our citizens dutifully do each year – prepare, organize and pay their taxes. As the sentence today reflects, our office, in partnership with law enforcement agencies, has ensured Mr. Earl has profited not one penny from his illegal endeavors. We are committed to protecting Alaska’s wildlife resources and will pursue fraudulent business activity, no matter which type.”
“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is committed to protecting our unique and highly vulnerable marine mammal species from illegal exploitation and commercialization,” said U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement Special Agent in Charge Rory Stark. “Activities such as these not only impact the viability of walrus populations, but also subsistence and traditional handicraft creation relied on by Alaska Native people. We are dedicated to combatting all forms of illegal wildlife trafficking, especially those involving our domestic species of conservation concern.”
“Mr. Earl disregarded the law to further his business interests and he intentionally evaded paying his fair share of tax on those profits. Not only did he exploit natural resources, but he undermined our tax system through the unfair advantage he had over other businesses that play by the rules,” said IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Acting Special Agent in Charge Corinne Kalve. “IRS-CI will continue to investigate those who operate outside the law and fail to pay their fair share of taxes.”
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement (USFWS) and the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) investigated the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) also assisted in the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney’s Aunnie Steward and Steve Skrocki prosecuted the case.
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Idaho Man Indicted for Sexually Exploiting Children in AlaskaRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A federal grand jury in Anchorage returned an indictment charging a Bonner County, Idaho man with sexually exploiting children and production of child pornography in Haines, Alaska.
According to federal court documents, Christopher Panagiotou-Scigliano, 39, coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography. He is also charged in Idaho's First Judicial District Court with the sexual abuse of multiple child victims.
In 2015 Panagiotou-Scigliano moved from Idaho to a farm in Haines. After their arrival, Panagiotou-Scigliano allegedly arranged for several of the children he had been grooming and abusing in Idaho to visit his farm in Haines. When the children arrived Panagiotou-Scigliano allegedly continued grooming and sexually exploiting them by taking numerous sexually explicit images and videos of the victims. Law Enforcement also recovered additional images and videos of child sexual exploitation that appear to have been downloaded from the internet.
Panagiotou-Scigliano was taken into custody in Boundary County, Idaho, on July 23, 2021. He made an initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Candy W. Dale of the U.S. District Court for Idaho, who ordered him detained without bail pending his return to Alaska. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years imprisonment, and a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
If the public has any further information regarding Panagiotou-Scigliano’s activities, please contact the FBI Anchorage Field Office at 907-276-4441.
Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson of the District of Alaska and Acting Special Agent in Charge Adam Pierce of the FBI’s Anchorage Field Office made today’s announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force is investigating the case. Also supporting the investigation are the Haines Police Department, the Bonner County, Idaho, Sheriff’s Office, the Bonner County Prosecutor's Office and the Alaska State Troopers.
Assistant U.S. Attorney James Klugman is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood combines 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 visitwww.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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Kodiak Fisherman Sentenced Federal Prison and $1 million Fine for Falsifying Fishing RecordsRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A Kodiak, Alaska, man was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Joshua M. Kindred to six months in federal prison, a $1,000,000 fine, 126 days in a halfway house and 80 hours of community service. He must also make a public service announcement acknowledging his wrongdoing for knowingly submitting false records on halibut and sablefish.
According to court documents, James Aaron Stevens, 47, an experienced commercial fisherman, vessel owner and captain, pled guilty in November 2020 to falsely labeling fish in violation of the Lacey Act.
Stevens, the owner and operator of F/V Alaskan Star and F/V Southern Seas, falsely reported where he harvested 903,208 pounds of individual fishing quota (IFQ) halibut and sablefish. Stevens knowingly falsified numerous documents – IFQ landing reports, Alaska Department of Fish and Game fish tickets and fishing logbooks – to show that he harvested fish in locations and regulatory areas where he did not fish and omitted areas where he actually fished. Stevens committed this offense over the course of 26 fishing trips spanning four IFQ fishing seasons (2014-2017). Taken together, the halibut and sablefish that Stevens falsely reported had an approximate dock value of $4,522,210 and market value of $13,566,630. Stevens sold the falsely labeled fish caught during these trips, which were, or were intended to be, transported in interstate and foreign commerce.
“Fishing is at the heart of Alaska and we must all strive to protect this important resource. Criminals who violate the Lacy Act for their own personal gain harm both the resource itself and those who either depend on it for their livelihood or their subsistence lifestyle,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson, District of Alaska. “Our office will continue to aggressively prosecute individuals who engage in falsifying fishery records.”
“Alaska is known for its world-class, sustainable fisheries based on science-based management and honest fishermen following the rules,” said Will Ellis, Assistant Director of NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement, Alaska Division. “This sentencing should serve as a reminder that there are serious consequences for those who break the rules, and that NOAA OLE is committed to holding those who cheat the system accountable.”
NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement conducted the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander and Andrea Hattan, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, NOAA Office of General Counsel Enforcement Section, prosecuted this case.
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Anchorage Man Convicted of Sex Trafficking and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A federal jury convicted an Anchorage man on three counts of sex trafficking and one count of drug distribution after a six-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Joshua M. Kindred. The jury reached its verdicts after one day of deliberations.
According to court documents, Davon Smith, 28, was charged with one count of sex trafficking a minor, one count of benefitting from a sex trafficking enterprise, one count of trafficking an adult by force, fraud or coercion and one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin. According to evidence presented at trial, Smith trafficked an adult and runaway juvenile victim in early 2019. Smith had a previous drug conviction and was on federal supervised release at the time he committed the offenses.
This is the second sex trafficking trial in the District of Alaska in recent months. Tristan Grant was convicted of several offenses including child sex trafficking and the production of child pornography following a bench trial before Senior U.S. District Judge Ralph R. Beistline. Grant’s sentencing is scheduled for September 15 at 9:00 a.m. in Anchorage.
“Individuals looking to profit from the sexual exploitation of children and adults in our community should be on notice that the consequences could include a life term of imprisonment in a federal prison,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson, District of Alaska. “Our success in prosecuting these offenses results from the courage of the victims and the effective coordination between the Anchorage Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”
“As demonstrated by this guilty verdict, recruiting adults and minors for commercial sex acts, and profiting from their exploitation, won’t be tolerated here in Alaska,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Adam Pierce of the FBI’s Anchorage Field Office. “While we can’t erase the trauma these survivors experienced, by continuing to aggressively investigate sex trafficking crimes, and with a victim-centered approach, the FBI and our partners on the Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force are ensuring those who commit such crimes are held accountable.”
Smith is scheduled to be sentenced on November 15 in Anchorage. Smith faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. He also faces a term of supervised release of not less than five years and up to life. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Anchorage Police Department (APD) investigated this case as part of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children through sex trafficking, as well as to identify and recover victims.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Ivers and Adam Alexander are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood combines 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 visitwww.justice.gov/psc.
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Fairbanks Area Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
FAIRBANKS – A North Pole, Alaska, man was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Ralph Beistline to 15 years in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for possession of child pornography after a prior conviction for sexual abuse of a minor.
According to court documents, Jason Patzke, 47, downloaded, accessed, and deleted pornographic videos depicting children as young as four and five years old engaged in sexual acts with adults.
In June 2018 the Federal Bureau of Investigation downloaded the videos in question from a BitTorrent account they later linked to Jason Patzke. During an interview with FBI detectives, Patzke admitted downloading child pornography images and videos. He stated that he deleted the images from his computer using a scrubber program.
Patzke was subject to increased penalties due to prior State of Alaska felony convictions for sexual abuse of an 11-year-old in 2001 and indecent exposure involving teenagers in 2004.
“The streets and children in the Fairbanks area are safer today with Patzke in federal prison for the next 15 years,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson, District of Alaska. “We are committed to aggressively prosecuting and holding accountable those who create, possess or distribute child pornography, particularly those with a history of abusing children. We can never rest as long as even one child is being robbed of their childhood in this horrific manner.”
“Sexual exploitation of children is one of the most egregious offenses against one of our most vulnerable populations,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Adam Pierce of the FBI’s Anchorage Field Office. “The defendant knowingly exploited innocent children, including toddlers, for his own indulgence. Those who engage in such conduct should expect to be held accountable.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Doty prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood combines 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.
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Filipino Man Convicted of Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A federal jury in Anchorage has convicted a Philippine national for possessing more than 1,000 doses of pure methamphetamine and a Glock 19 semiautomatic pistol.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Anchorage Police Department (APD) officers were dispatched to a possible homicide in the early morning of August 25, 2018. Looking for possible witnesses in the area, they encountered Markanthony Sapalasan, 38, of Anchorage, who was carrying a backpack. During their conversation with Sapalasan, the officers noticed a pistol in his pants pocket. The officers removed the pistol and transported Sapalasan to APD to speak with detectives about the homicide. Sapalasan’s backpack and gun remained with the initial responding officer. At the end of his shift, the officer conducted the required inventory search of Sapalasan’s backpack prior to placing it into evidence for safekeeping. During this inventory search, the officer found a plastic shopping bag with multiple smaller bags containing methamphetamine. He applied for a search warrant to search the backpack. The search uncovered more than 124.5 grams of actual methamphetamine, which has a street value of nearly $12,000. They also found a scale, a drug ledger, multiple plastic baggies, a phone, two SIM cards, 9mm ammunition, and two pistol magazines. A forensic extraction of Sapalasan’s phone revealed hundreds of text messages coordinating sales of methamphetamine and heroin. Sapalasan was subsequently indicted on October 17, 2018, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in support of a drug trafficking crime.
“Methamphetamine continues to negatively impact the citizens of Anchorage and across Alaska. The conviction of Markanthony Sapalasan is another step forward in ridding the streets of individuals who sell this destructive drug and ruin so many Alaskan lives,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson, District of Alaska.
“Individuals such as Sapalasan and the narcotics that he sold detrimentally affects the safety of our communities,” said ATF Seattle Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan T. McPherson. “Added to this, the use of a firearm in the furtherance of a drug crime exponentially increases the dangers to all Alaskans. Hopefully this conviction will send a message to others that actions such as this will not be tolerated.”
Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy Burgess, who presided over the trial, ordered that Sapalasan be detained pending sentencing. He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case, with the assistance of the Anchorage Police Department and the State of Alaska Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Klugman and Karen Vandergaw prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Estonian Citizen Pleads Guilty to Computer Fraud and AbuseRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – An Estonian national pleaded guilty today in the District of Alaska to two counts of computer fraud and abuse.
According to court documents, Pavel Tsurkan, 33, operated a criminal proxy botnet by remotely accessing and compromising more than 1,000 computer devices and internet routers worldwide, including at least 60 victims in Alaska. He used the victims’ devices to build and operate an Internet of Things (IoT)-based botnet dubbed the “Russian2015” using the domain Russian2015.ru. He modified the operation of each compromised internet router so it could be used as a proxy to transmit third-party internet traffic without the owners’ knowledge or consent. He then sold access to global cybercriminals who channeled their traffic through the victims’ home routers, using the victims’ devices to engage in spam campaigns and other criminal activity. The Alaska victims experienced significant data overages even when there were no home computers connected to the victims’ home networks. The data overages resulted in hundreds to thousands of dollars per victim.
“Today’s cybercriminals rely on increasingly sophisticated techniques to hijack computers and personal electronic devices for their criminal activities. Botnets like the ‘Russian2015’ are a dangerous threat to all Americans and today’s guilty plea demonstrates we can and will hold accountable foreign cybercriminals and their enablers,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson, District of Alaska. “Our success in disrupting this botnet was the result of a strong partnership between private industry experts and law enforcement.”
Tsurkan is scheduled to be sentenced on November 10, 2021 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI’s Anchorage Field Office is investigating the case with support from GCI and Palo Alto Networks Unit 42. The FBI’s New Haven, Connecticut, Field Office provided assistance during the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander and Trial Attorney Alden Pelker of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section are prosecuting the case.
Former Bethel Principal Sentenced to 15 Years for Trying to Sexually Entice a MinorRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A Bethel, Alaska, man was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Timothy M. Burgess to 15 years in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for trying to sexually entice a minor.
According to court documents Christopher Allen Carmichael, 57, a former principal working in the Lower Kuskokwim School District in Bethel, pled guilty in November 2020 to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity.
Carmichael became the subject of a federal investigation in November 2019 when the Bethel Police Department contacted the FBI concerning Carmichael’s online activities. During the investigation, Carmichael began engaging in graphic sexual communications with an undercover FBI agent posing as a fictional 13-year-old girl. In a series of text messages in December 2019, Carmichael graphically described several sexually explicit acts he would do to her. Carmichael continued to remind the fictional 13-year-old girl to delete their messages and that it was important they keep referring to her like she was 18 so that he wouldn’t get into trouble.
“With today’s sentencing we have removed this predator from the community and sent a resounding message that we are committed to aggressively prosecuting anyone who seeks to exploit children,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson, District of Alaska.
“No child should ever have to go through this. Parents and communities entrusted Carmichael with a great responsibility, but he abused that position of trust in the most disgraceful way imaginable,” said Robert Britt, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Carmichael will now be held accountable for his horribly disturbing conduct.”
The FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, the Bethel Police Department, the Alaska State Troopers, and the Anchorage Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Doty prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Rural Alaska Anti-Violence Enforcement Network (RAAVEN) initiative to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in Alaska Native communities. Led
by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, it encourages extensive collaboration among law enforcement at all levels, rural communities, Alaska Native groups, victim service organizations and care providers.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood combines 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.
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Juneau Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting ChildrenRead the Press Release
JUNEAU – A Juneau man was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison followed by 35 years of supervised release for the sexual exploitation – receipt of child pornography. Also, he must pay $9,000 to the known victims.
According to information presented in court, Arthur Moe Martin, 51, became the subject of an investigation in December 2017 when the Anchorage Cyber Crimes Unit received a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). An online internet email provider contacted NCMEC with a tip regarding the download of an image involving a prepubescent female engaged in sexual conduct with an adult male. The email account was located in Juneau. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Juneau Police Department identified and contacted Martin as the owner of the email account. Martin admitted that he possessed electronic images of sexually exploited children and turned over his cell phones and computer to law enforcement where they found more than 200 images of very young children being sexually exploited. In 1995, Martin was convicted in Alaska state court for sexually abusing a minor.
“Sexual exploitation of children is especially abhorrent, and the harm caused to the child victims lasts for the rest of their lives,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson, District of Alaska. “There is no place in society for these acts on children and our office will vigorously pursue all of those who perpetuate these crimes.”
“Now more than ever, our children need to be protected from online predators seeking to exploit their innocence,” said Robert Britt, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “It’s a top priority of ours at the FBI, and thanks to this dedicated investigation and prosecution team, there is now one less predator roaming our streets.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Juneau Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood combines 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.
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Longtime, International Criminal Sentenced to 2 1/2 Years for U.S. Bank FraudRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A Romanian national, who resided in California, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for bank fraud using a device to steal credit card information in a process known as skimming. He is also required to pay $57,713.53 in restitution to his known victims.
According to court documents, Marcus Rosu, 40, became the subject of a federal investigation in February 2020 when the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) intercepted a package containing hundreds of fraudulent bank cards containing customers’ card information. The cards were backtracked to more than 70 banking institutions in southern California and some were traced to fraudulent transactions in Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley. Through the course of the investigation, Rosu was identified as the suspected mailer of the package.
Following the investigation on a report of ATM skimming at a Matanuska Valley Family Credit Union in Willow, Alaska, law enforcement arrested Rosu at a rental car company at Ted Stevens International Airport in July 2020. After his arrest, law enforcement searched Rosu’s hotel room and found more than 1,000 magnetic strip cards, a laptop computer and a magnetic strip reader-encoder hidden in the ceiling tiles.
In February 2021, Rosu pled guilty to bank fraud. In the plea he admitted to installing skimming devices on ATMs which he used to record customer information encoded on the magnetic stripe of customers’ ATM cards. Using a magnetic strip writer, Rosu copied the stolen account information onto his own magnetic stripe cards producing hundreds of counterfeit cards. He then used the falsified magnetic strip cards and customer PINs, to access customers bank accounts and steal their money.
According to Interpol and other agencies, Rosu was previously convicted of similar offenses in the United Kingdom and Australia. Their records indicate he used at least 12 aliases and eight different dates of birth. He is also a suspect in a similar skimming scheme in Connecticut and Michigan.
“Theft of personal financial information is a serious problem which damages the credit of too many unsuspecting Alaskan citizens,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson of the District of Alaska. “We encourage everyone to visually and physically inspect ATMs or other payment stations for any obvious signs of tampering prior to using their debit or credit cards.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service remains steadfast in our commitment to investigate any criminal use of the U.S. Mail,” said Inspector in Charge Anthony Galetti. “The defendant perpetuated their ATM skimming not just in Alaska but across the United States just as they have previously done overseas. The removal of this defendant from the streets ensures our continued efforts to secure the U.S. Mail and protect the Postal Service from criminal attack and misuse. We appreciate the collaborative efforts of our law enforcement partners in bringing this defendant to justice.”
“Identity theft and fraud affects far too many Alaskans each year, and the Alaska State Troopers along with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners will aggressively investigate anyone that victimizes Alaskans,” said Captain Andrew Gorn, Commander of the Alaska Bureau of Investigation. “After committing similar crimes across the multiple states and countries, it was the efforts of Alaska’s law enforcement community that finally held Mr. Rosu accountable for his actions.”
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Alaska State Troopers with the support of the Anchorage Airport Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Vandergaw of the District of Alaska prosecuted the case.
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Juneau Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
JUNEAU – A Juneau man was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess to 10 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine.
According to court documents, Kevin Leonard-Kinney, 45, pleaded guilty in May 2019 to trafficking methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine to Alaska and distributed in the Juneau area between May and August 2018. Records indicate that in addition to personally carrying illegal drugs on multiple flights between California and Alaska, Leonard-Kinney conspired with Jennifer Greenberg, 45, of California, and Chantal Epstein, 31, of Alaska to use the United States Postal Service to transport drugs.
Epstein accepted parcels of illegal drugs at her residence in Juneau for Leonard-Kinney which were sent from California by Greenberg. In August 2018, U.S. Postal Inspectors identified a suspicious package and a drug detection canine positively identified the scent of controlled substances in the package. A search of the package revealed a speaker containing 1,351 gross grams of methamphetamine, 159.43 gross grams of heroin and 28.8 gross grams of cocaine. Law enforcement removed the original narcotics and inserted representative samples into the parcel along with two tracking and monitoring devices. Surveillance teams followed and observed the package being picked up by Epstein and given to Leonard-Kinney who in turn drove around town and then left it in his parked vehicle. Hours later Epstein removed the package and took it to Leonard-Kinney’s hotel room. Law enforcement entered the room and placed Leonard-Kinney and Epstein into custody. During a search of the hotel room, officers found methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, drug paraphernalia and more than $40,000 in cash. They also found multiple firearms including five pistols, an AR-15 rifle, numerous rounds of ammunition and magazines. After obtaining a search warrant for Epstein’s residence, officers found additional drugs and cash.
In separate hearings on related charges, Epstein was sentenced to five years in federal prison and five years of supervised release; and Greenberg was sentenced to two years in federal prison and five years of supervised release.
“Illicit narcotics are a cancer in our society and many Southeast communities have suffered at the hands of this epidemic for years,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson of the District of Alaska. “The trail of destruction caused by the distribution and use of methamphetamine and heroin in communities like Juneau has been particularly devastating. We take drug trafficking crimes very seriously and will continue to vigorously prosecute traffickers for their illegal actions.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service remains steadfast in our commitment to investigate any criminal use of the U.S. Mail, and the shipment of illegal narcotics remains one of our highest priorities,” said Inspector in Charge Anthony Galetti, “the actions of these defendants have untold harm on the Alaskan community, and now they will be held accountable. We thank the USAO and our local partners for their assistance in bringing these defendants to justice.”
The Southeast Alaska Cities Against Drugs Task Force (SEACAD) investigated the case. SEACAD is a proactive task force comprised of law enforcement officers from the Juneau, Petersburg, Sitka, Haines, Craig, Wrangell, Cordova, Hoonah, Ketchikan, Skagway and Yukutat police departments, Alaska State Troopers, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service whose primary goal is to reduce illegal drug trafficking in Southeast Alaska. It is a cooperative agreement in which all Southeast cities, the Alaska State Troopers and Federal Law Enforcement partners have agreed to pool resources and collaborate to combat drug trafficking and distribution anywhere in Southeast Alaska. Tips can be submitted online at http://juneaucrimeline.com/
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt prosecuted the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Wasilla Doctor Pleads Guilty to Illegal Distribution of NarcoticsRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A Wasilla, Alaska, medical doctor pleaded guilty to illegally dispensing and distributing controlled substances to patients in his medical practice at the Camelot Family Health clinic where he specialized in family medicine and pain management.
According to court documents, David Chisholm, 64, illegally prescribed his patients thousands of pills of highly addictive controlled substances, including oxycodone, methadone, hydrocodone, morphine, tramadol, fentanyl, hydromorphone and buprenorphine. An extensive undercover investigation revealed that Chisholm routinely distributed the controlled substances without administering a medical exam and without a legitimate medical purpose. The investigation also found that Chisholm’s prescription of these controlled substances was one of the significant contributing factors in the accidental deaths of five patients.
“An Alaska medical doctor who swore an oath to do no harm, instead spread the scourge of addiction in our communities by writing bogus prescriptions,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson of the District of Alaska. “This office will spare no effort in combatting the illegal distribution of addictive drugs and hold medical professionals like the defendant accountable for their actions.”
“Dr. Chisholm’s irresponsible prescribing habits are an abuse of his medical license and endangered our citizens while continuing to fuel the opioid epidemic that is a clear and present danger to our nation’s health and security,” said Frank A. Tarentino III, DEA Special Agent in Charge. “Physicians like Dr. Chisholm who used his position to traffic opioids is really a drug trafficker with a prescription pad and he must be held responsible for his reckless prescribing practices. We will continue to work with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners in the opioid and overdose prevention awareness campaign and relentless pursuit of all those involved in the trafficking of opioids.”
Chisholm’s plea agreement requires that he surrender his Alaska State medical license.
Chisholm will be sentenced at a later date and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, up to $1,000,000 fine and three years of supervised release. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Alaska State Board of Pharmacy are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Schroeder is prosecuting the case.
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Anchorage Woman Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Funds from an Alaska Tribal OrganizationRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – An Anchorage woman pleaded guilty today to embezzling nearly $175,000 from the Alaska Native Harbor Seal Commission (ANHSC), which was primarily funded through federal grants issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).
The grants were intended to support tribal nonprofits in collecting harbor seal and Steller sea lion harvest data as well as conduct bio sampling to monitor the health of marine mammal populations in Alaska.
According to court documents, Joni Bryant, 44, embezzled money from ANHSC for her personal use between July 2014 to October 2016. During that time Bryant was employed as the Executive Director of the ANHSC and was responsible for managing federal grants, as well as the day-to-day financial management of the organization.
Bryant embezzled the money by using the ANHSC checking account and credit cards to make unauthorized personal purchases and cash withdrawals. The unauthorized expenditures included paying for personal travel for herself and family, personal purchases at various retail stores, gas and grocery purchases, wireless service charges and paying personal insurance and utility bills.
Bryant pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from an Alaska tribal organization. As part of the plea agreement, Bryant has agreed to pay restitution to NOAA in the amount of $174,290.67. She is scheduled to be sentenced on September 17 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, up to $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Department of Interior’s Office of Inspector General (DOI-OIG) conducted the investigation leading to the charges in this case, with assistance from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Inspector General and the Anchorage Police Department (APD).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charisse Arce is prosecuting the case.
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First Tribal Community Response Plans Adopted in AlaskaRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – In a first for Alaska, the Curyung Tribal Council of Dillingham and the Native Village of Unalakleet unanimously approved their Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Tribal Community Response Plans (TCRP) as part of the Department of Justice’s national MMIP Initiative.
“The adoption of these plans marks a major milestone in finding lasting solutions to the MMIP challenge in Alaska,” said Acting U.S. Attorney, Bryan Wilson of the District of Alaska. “Over the last few months tribal representatives, law enforcement officials and victim service organizations have partnered together to design a plan that is right for victims and their families while remaining culturally sensitive and balanced with what the law requires.”
In a show of support and to celebrate this important milestone, members of the AK MMIP working group, including members from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Coast Guard and Victims for Justice traveled to Dillingham on Tuesday to witness Curyung adopt its TCRP. On Thursday, the U.S. Coast Guard flew working group members from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Coast Guard, Alaska Department of Law, Tanana Chiefs Conference’s Village Police Safety Officer program and Victims for Justice to celebrate the Native Village of Unalakleet’s momentous achievement and adoption of its TCRP.
A TCRP is a guide for how a tribal community will build response capacity, collaborate with law enforcement and provide other support in response to a report of a new missing or murdered person. The TCRP is individualized and tailored to the needs, resources and culture of each local community.
According to its detailed plan, “Curyung will collaborate with individuals and agencies to promote the development and implementation of a coordinated community response to address issues of violence against enrolled citizens of Curyung Tribal Council while honoring victims no matter the situation or their heritage.”
The Native Village of Unalakleet declared in its detailed plan to “work collaboratively to support law enforcement, search and rescue, victim services and other support agencies” and “ensure all unresolved missing person cases are kept active by collaborating with local, state and federal law enforcement.”
Both TCRPs are comprehensive and include how and when to submit a missing person report, what will happen during a response and who will lead the investigation. The plan also establishes a clear response structure and outlines training opportunities as well as victim support services.
Next, both the Curyung Tribal Council and the Native Village of Unalakleet will pilot a TCRP tabletop exercise with the National Criminal Justice Training Center (NCJTC). The exercise will help create a training module for tribal communities, law enforcement and other community stakeholders to practice their MMIP incident response. “By practicing and preparing for an MMIP incident, from the first report of a missing person to its resolution, tribal communities and multi-disciplinary partners will improve their response across the state,” added Wilson.
In February, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that three Alaska tribal communities volunteered to participate as Alaska Pilot Project sites creating TCRPs. The sites include the tribal communities of Curyung Tribal Council (Dillingham), Native Village of Unalakleet and Koyukuk Native Village. The next step is for model TCRPs to be created based on the work by the Pilot Project sites. The models will be shared with tribal communities across the state who can then tailor it to the specific needs, resources and culture of their communities.
Alaska is among the first of six pilot-program states developing community response plans in accordance with the U.S. Attorney General’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Initiative and the President’s Operation Lady Justice Task Force. The other states are Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Oklahoma and Oregon.
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Note to Editors:
The Alaska MMIP Working Group is a multi-disciplinary team led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office MMIP Coordinator, Ingrid Cumberlidge, and comprised of law enforcement representatives, including:
- Alaska State Troopers and VPSOs
- FBI
- Anchorage Police Department,
- U.S. Marshals
- Fairbanks Police Department
- BIA Cold Case Office
- Kotzebue Police Department
- Nome Police Department
- Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska VPSO supervisors
- Tanana Chiefs Conference VPSO supervisors.
- Representatives from the Alaska Department of Law
- U.S. Coast Guard
- Tanana Chief’s Conference
- Tribal Representatives from Ahtna Region, Orutsararmiut Native Council, Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak
- Victim service providers; and
- Advocates from Victims for Justice
- Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center
- Curyung Tribal Council (Dillingham)
- Native Village of Unalakleet
- Koyukuk Native Village
Link to previous Alaska MMIP press releases:
Recognizing Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day in Alaska May 5, 2021
Pilot Projects Launched to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons February 8, 2021
U.S. Attorney Announces Update on Efforts Made to Promote Public Safety in Rural Alaska July 24, 2020
U.S. Attorney Appoints Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Coordinator for Alaska July 14, 2020
U.S. Attorney and FBI Announce Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Initiative Nov 27, 2019
Utah Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Murdering his Wife on a Cruise Ship in Southeast AlaskaRead the Press Release
JUNEAU – A Utah man was sentenced today to 30 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for the beating death of his wife during a 2017 family cruise to Alaska.
Kenneth Manzanares, 43, pleaded guilty in February 2020 to the second-degree murder of Kristy Manzanares while onboard the Emerald Princess cruise ship in the U.S. Territorial Waters outside southeast Alaska on July 25, 2017.
“In 2017 Kenneth Manzanares brutally murdered his wife Kristy Manzanares while on an Alaskan cruise with their three daughters and extended family members. This was not a random act of violence but a chilling neglect for human life for which he will serve 30 years in federal prison, where there is no parole ever,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson of the District of Alaska.
“While today’s sentence will not bring Kristy back to her family and friends, we hope it provides a sense of justice for this heinous crime and brings some closure to those who knew and cared about her.”
“No excuse can justify the savagery committed by this man, who will now spend the next three decades behind bars,” said Robert Britt, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “The FBI worked tirelessly, with the support of our partners, to seek justice for Kristy – a beloved mother, daughter, sister and friend. While justice has now been served, the lasting impact and trauma this man inflicted on Kristy’s family can never be erased. Our thoughts are with Kristy’s family and her home community.”
According to court documents, on July 24, 2017, Kenneth Manzanares, Kristy Manzanares, their three daughters and Kristy’s extended family members boarded the Emerald Princess on an Alaskan cruise. On the evening of July 25, Kenneth and Kristy were inside their cabin along with two of their daughters.
According to admissions made in connection with the plea, Kenneth and Kristy became involved in an argument about Kenneth’s behavior that evening. During the argument, Kristy stated she wanted a divorce and told him to get off the ship in Juneau and travel back home to Utah. Kenneth told the two daughters to leave the room and both went into an adjoining relatives’ cabin. A few minutes later, they both heard Kristy scream and attempted to reenter the cabin using the adjoining door when Kenneth told them “don’t come in here.” They both went to the connected balcony and saw Kenneth straddling Kristy on the bed striking her in the head with closed fists.
Prior to security officers arriving in the cabin, Kristy Manzanares’ two brothers and father arrived on scene. One of the brothers saw Kenneth Manzanares drag Kristy’s body toward the balcony and he grabbed her ankles pulling her back into the cabin. Soon after, at approximately 9:00 p.m., ship security and medical personnel arrived and attempted to perform life saving measures on Kristy but were unsuccessful. It was determined that she was killed by blunt force trauma to her head and face. Manzanares was arrested, on July 26, 2017, and has remained in federal custody.
The FBI’s Anchorage Field Office conducted the investigation leading to the charges in this case. Additional investigative assistance was provided by the FBI’s Seattle and Salt Lake City Field Offices, the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS), Coast Guard District 17, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt prosecuted the case.
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Anchorage Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Attempted Child Sexual ExploitationRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – An Anchorage man was sentenced by Federal District Court Judge Sharon L. Gleason to 10 years in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for the attempted sexual exploitation, coercion and enticement of a minor.
According to evidence presented at trial, detectives assigned to the Anchorage Police Department (APD) Crimes Against Children Unit (CACU) received a report that Eric Larsen, 51, solicited a 13-year-old girl for oral sex and had exposed himself to her.
APD detectives assumed the identity of the girl and continued to communicate with him. Larsen used text messages and phone calls to negotiate a time and place to meet with the girl, for the purpose of engaging in sexual intercourse. On February 14, 2019, Larsen arrived at a prearranged location. Instead of meeting the girl, Larsen was met by APD officers and arrested. At the time of his arrest, Larsen was found to be in possession of condoms, personal lubricant, a vibrator, methamphetamine, a glass pipe and a loaded handgun.
“Child sexual exploitation is a serious problem in our community, but thanks to the dedication of skilled investigators and coordination between local, state and federal law enforcement partners offenders like Mr. Larsen should know that they will be brought to justice,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson of the District of Alaska.
The Anchorage Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Alexander and James Klugman prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood combines 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.
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California Man Convicted by Alaska Jury of Multiple Drug Trafficking and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A federal jury convicted a Compton, California, man yesterday for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, attempted distribution of methamphetamine and cocaine, maintaining a place for drug purposes and illegally possessing firearms. The convictions followed a five-day jury trial before Chief United States District Judge Timothy M. Burgess.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Antoine Lapoleon Davis aka “Shorty,” 48, trafficked large amounts of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine to Alaska through the U.S. mail and distributed it in the Anchorage area during 2017 and 2018.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) executed a search warrant on Davis’s Anchorage apartment on October 4, 2018, where they seized methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, four firearms and other drug dealing paraphernalia. Davis later told the FBI that he distributed nearly three kilograms of methamphetamine and half a kilogram of cocaine per month as well as heroin and crack cocaine. He also stated that he obtained the firearms found in his apartment to defend his drug supply. The firearms included three handguns and a semi-automatic rifle that Davis referred to as a “chopper.”
Davis also mailed two parcels containing drugs and guns that were intercepted by the U.S. Postal Inspectors in 2017. One parcel sent from Anchorage to Arizona contained methamphetamine, meth pills, and multiple firearms. The second package sent from California to Anchorage contained nearly two kilograms of methamphetamine and cocaine. Investigators linked Davis to the two parcels through forensic fingerprinting and handwriting analysis as well as post office surveillance footage.
Davis faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of up to life in prison based on his prior criminal history and convictions of drug trafficking. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
The FBI Safe Streets Task Force, the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Anchorage Police Department (APD) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Tansey, Kayla Doyle and Jennifer Ivers prosecuted the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Six Arrested and Indicted in Juneau Drug Ring BustRead the Press Release
JUNEAU – Six individuals from Juneau, Alaska, have been arrested and charged in connection to a drug trafficking ring which conspired to distribute methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine between July 2017 and May 2021. They are also charged with firearm offenses in connection with drug trafficking.
Those charged are:
- David Powers, 50;
- Janel Davis aka “Janel Ellis,” 48;
- Keoni Bischoff, 41;
- Catherine Demars aka “Catherine McCoy,” 50;
- Eliza Nicole Coyle, 35; and
- Lorvin Baraoidan Uddipa, 33.
According to court documents, over the last four years, Powers and Davis obtained drugs in Washington and distributed them across southeast Alaska using cell phones to connect with buyers. Bischoff, Demars, Coyle and Uddipa were members of the drug ring who assisted Powers and Davis in obtaining and distributing the controlled substances. The group also acquired a variety of firearms, including seven pistols, seven rifles and a shotgun many of which had silencers. Investigators also found a suspected selector switch which could potentially be used to convert a handgun into a machine gun. Other items found included numerous rounds of ammunition, additional silencer parts, laser sights and various firearm parts and accessories.
If convicted, the individuals face a maximum sentence of lifetime in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Juneau Police Department (JPD), Alaska State Troopers (AST), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), United States Coast Guard Investigative Service (USCGIS) and United States Postal Inspector Service (USPIS) are members of the South East Alaska Cities Against Drugs (SEACAD) Taskforce and are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jack Schmidt and Christopher Schroeder are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
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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Convicted Sex Offender Arrested on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – An Anchorage man was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Crimes Against Children Human Trafficking Task Force for suspected child exploitation offenses.
According to court documents, Timothy Swensen, Jr., age 29, is charged by information with violations related to the alleged production, distribution and possession of child pornography. Swensen was previously convicted of sexual assault in the second degree by the State of Alaska in 2011.
As detailed in the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint initially filed in this matter, the case first came to the attention of the FBI following a report to the Anchorage Police Department (APD) of a suspected sexual assault of a vulnerable adult woman. During the interview with detectives, the alleged adult victim shared text messages allegedly sent by Swensen that included a series of images depicting the sexual abuse of a female toddler.
If the public has any further information regarding Swensen’s activities, please contact the FBI Anchorage Field Office at (907) 276-4441.
The FBI and APD, as part of the FBI’s Crimes Against Children Human Trafficking Task Force, conducted the investigation leading to Swensen’s arrest.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A criminal complaint or information 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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Stebbins Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
FAIRBANKS – Dwayne Thrasher, 33, from Stebbins, Alaska, was sentenced to 28 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegally possessing a firearm.
According to court documents, Thrasher was intoxicated in his home on January 21, 2020, when he became angry at his domestic partner. After throwing a pot of boiling hot soup to the floor, he pulled out a .22-caliber handgun and fired it inside the home until it was empty. When he began to reload the firearm, his partner was able to grab the gun and hide it before fleeing the house in fear for her life.
Thrasher has a long history of assaulting multiple women stretching back over 13 years. As someone previously convicted of a felony offense, Thrasher is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Alaska State Troopers investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Doty prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Rural Alaska Anti-Violence Enforcement Network (RAAVEN) initiative to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in Alaska Native communities. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, it encourages extensive collaboration among law enforcement at all levels, rural communities, Alaska Native groups, victim service organizations and care providers.
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Anchorage Man Charged for Illegal Possession of Firearms and DrugsRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – An Anchorage man was indicted on federal charges of possessing heroin and methamphetamine for distribution and illegally possessing firearms as a convicted felon.
According to court records, the federal charges against Kirt Filoialii, 42, stem from a domestic violence investigation by the Anchorage Police Department (APD). On April 15, Filoialii is alleged to have assaulted a female victim with a firearm and metal bar leaving her unconscious and injured. Also, Filoialii is alleged to have kidnapped the victim as part of the assault. When located by APD, Filoialii had 300 grams of packaged heroin and 11 grams of methamphetamine, a loaded Glock pistol, more than $16,000 in cash and a scale. APD located two more firearms and additional ammunition in his residence. The Anchorage District Attorney’s Office indicted Filoialii on state charges on April 22.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office charged Filoialii in U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska with possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute and felon in possession of a firearm. The defendant made his initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah M. Smith. If convicted of all charges, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson of the District of Alaska made the announcement. The Anchorage Police Department in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Safe Street Task Force are investigating the case. Assistant District Attorney Luba Bartnitskaia is prosecuting the state case for the Anchorage District Attorney’s Office, Department of Law.
Assistant U.S. Attorney George Tran is prosecuting the federal case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. 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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Anchorage Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for International Parental KidnappingRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – An Anchorage man was sentenced to 18 months and 19 days in federal prison followed by one year of supervised release for kidnapping his two young children in 2014 while on a family vacation in the Philippines.
According to evidence presented at trial, Leo James Chaplin, 62, who is an American-born United States citizen, abducted the young children he shared with his then spouse in November 2014. Both children were born and lived in Anchorage prior to their abduction. Chaplin kept the children in the Philippines for over four-and-a-half years, depriving their mother from lawfully exercising her parental rights. Chaplin was also acting in flagrant disregard of Alaska family court orders to return the children to Alaska. In July 2019 Chaplin was arrested in the Philippines and the U.S. Marshals Service returned him to the United States in September 2019 for prosecution. The Federal Bureau of Investigation in conjunction with the U.S. Department of State ensured the safe reunification between the children and their mother.
“This sentence is a strong reminder that there are severe consequences for any parent who kidnaps their children,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson of the District of Alaska. “Abducting young children and hiding them in a foreign country will not be tolerated and we will seek justice for those torn apart. The years of separation are lost forever, and the resulting emotional tragedy is unimaginable.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Department of State and U.S. Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allison O’Leary and George Tran prosecuted the case.
To learn more about the FBI’s Crimes Against Children Program, visit fbi.gov. For more information and resources on International Parental Kidnapping, visit DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section webpage.
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Recognizing Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day in AlaskaRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – Today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Alaska, joins with countless others across the state and the nation in recognition of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Awareness Day.
“As we pause to remember the Alaska Native communities and families who are mourning a murdered or missing loved one, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reaffirms its commitment to help find lasting solutions to the MMIP challenge in Alaska,” said Acting U.S. Attorney, Bryan Wilson of the District of Alaska. “For generations, Alaska Natives have experienced disproportionately high rates of domestic violence, sexual assault and other violent crimes. Tragically, this is not a problem of the past – it’s a problem that continues today. By working together to create strong partnerships, I am confident we can create a safer and brighter future.”
“In Alaska and across the nation, the FBI honors those whose lives have been shattered or lost from incidents of missing persons and fatal violence experienced by our American Indian and Alaska Native communities,” said Robert Britt, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Today we reaffirm our commitment to address this pattern of violence with resiliency and collaboration, as we continue to support our law enforcement and tribal partners for enhanced public safety throughout Alaska.”
“The Alaska Department of Public Safety remains committed in our efforts of building and maintaining strong partnerships with all of our tribal, local, state, and federal law enforcement partners,” stated Alaska Department of Public Safety Commissioner James Cockrell. “We work diligently to garner a better understanding of the cultural differences that make this state unique and great. The Department of Public Safety/Alaska State Troopers are committed to eliminating the scourge of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other forms of harm that disproportionately affects our indigenous population and threatens the stability of our communities.”
“We proudly stand alongside our public safety partners as we all recognize the importance of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day in Alaska,” said Acting Chief Kenneth McCoy with the Anchorage Police Department (APD).“It is imperative that we use our collective skills and working relationships to combat the violence disproportionately impacting our Alaska Native communities. We are committed to finding a solution for such an important and serious matter. Alaska must be a safe place for all. We will do our part.”
Last year the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced the appointment of Ingrid Cumberlidge as the Alaska MMIP Coordinator and launched the Alaska MMIP Working Group to address the complexities of MMIP response in Alaska. The group is a multi-disciplinary team involving the collaboration and coordination of tribal representatives, federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement, and social and victim service providers.
Since February the Alaska MMIP Working Group has hosted the initial listening and consultation sessions for about 150 of Alaska’s 229 federally recognized tribes in the AVCP, TCC, Kawerak, BBNA and A/PIA (scheduled) regions. During these sessions, tribal members share their stories, experiences and needs.
“Building collaboration and relationships through listening and consultation sessions is critical to increasing MMIP response and capacity in Alaska,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Wilson. He also noted that the Working Group is continuing to reach out to all of the Alaska Regions to arrange listening sessions.
Earlier this year three Pilot Projects volunteered to create model guides for how a tribal community will respond to a report of new missing or murdered person case. The Pilot Project sites include the tribal communities of Curyung Native Council (Dillingham), Native Village of Unalakleet and Koyukuk Native Village. When finished the Tribal Community Response Plans (TCRP) will be shared with tribal communities across the state who can then tailor it to the specific needs, resources and culture of their communities.
In April the National MMIP Data Working Group began analyzing existing data to develop a complete picture of MMIP cases. Additionally, the group is looking at data collection practices to identify opportunities to improve MMIP data. Also, in April Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced the formation of a new Missing & Murdered Unit (MMU) within the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services to provide leadership and direction for cross-departmental and interagency work involving missing and murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives.
If you know someone who is missing, it’s critical that you report it right away to 9-1-1 or your closest law enforcement. The first hours of someone missing can be vitally important. If you have questions about the U.S. Attorney’s Office MMIP program, please contact MMIP Program Coordinator, Ingrid Cumberlidge at [email protected] or [email protected] or call 907-271-3314.
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Note for Editors:
Presidential Proclamation on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day, 2021
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland’s Statement on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day, 2021
The Alaska MMIP Working Group is a multi-disciplinary team led by the United States Attorney’s Office MMIP Coordinator, Ingrid Cumberlidge, and comprised of law enforcement representatives, including:
- Alaska State Troopers and VPSOs
- FBI
- Anchorage Police Department
- U.S. Marshals,
- Fairbanks Police Department
- BIA MMU
- Kotzebue Police Department
- Nome Police Department,
- Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska VPSO supervisors
- Tanana Chief’s Conference VPSO supervisors
- Representatives from the Alaska Department of Law,
- U.S. Coast Guard
- Tanana Chief’s Conference
- Tribal representatives from Ahtna Region, Orutsararmiut Native Council, Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak
- Victim Service Provides
- Advocates from Victims for Justice
- Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center
North Pole Man Sentenced for Illegal Hunting and Fraudulent Subsistence PermitsRead the Press Release
FAIRBANKS – Robert J. Albaugh, 58, of North Pole, Alaska, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court in Fairbanks for violating the Lacey Act and other federal laws stemming from the illegal hunting of caribou and moose after fraudulently obtaining federal subsistence permits.
Albaugh previously pled guilty to a misdemeanor violation of the Lacey Act and another federal law prohibiting false statements on subsistence hunting permit applications. Albaugh was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Ralph R. Beistline to pay a fine of $5,000 and serve 30 months of federal probation, during which Albaugh is prohibited from hunting, fishing or trapping anywhere in the world.
According to the plea agreement, between 2002 and 2018, the defendant and his wife applied for and received a combined sixty-three federal subsistence hunt permits for Game Management Unit (GMU) 13, located south of Delta Junction, Alaska, by falsely certifying to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that he and his wife were “rural residents” of Delta Junction. In truth, the defendant knew that he and his wife were residents of North Pole and thus did not qualify as rural residents eligible to obtain federal subsistence hunt permits. The defendant and his wife took and transported a combined 23 caribou and one moose in violation of the Lacey Act and other federal regulations.
In 1980, Congress passed the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), which protects the subsistence needs of rural Alaskans. The Federal Subsistence Management Program is a multi-agency effort to provide the opportunity for a subsistence way of life by rural Alaskans on federal public lands and waters while maintaining healthy populations of fish and wildlife. Subsistence fishing and hunting provide a large share of the food consumed in rural Alaska. Nowhere else in the United States is there such a heavy reliance upon wild foods. This dependence on wild resources is cultural, social and economic. Alaska’s indigenous inhabitants have relied upon the traditional harvest of wild foods for thousands of years and have passed this way of life, its culture and values down through generations. Subsistence has also become important to many non-Native Alaskans, particularly in rural Alaska.
In issuing the sentence, Judge Beistline noted the importance of protecting Alaska’s natural resources and “respecting the wildlife in our state.” He also noted the importance of deterring the defendant and others from similar future violations.
The Bureau of Land Management Office of Law Enforcement and Security conducted the investigation following a separate investigation of the Albaughs by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for Taking of Wildlife Closed Season. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan D. Tansey for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Alaska.
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Arizona Man Arrested and Charged for Sexual Abuse of a Minor During a Flight to AlaskaRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A Mesa, Arizona, man was indicted in Alaska today for abusive sexual contact with a minor female passenger on a flight from Phoenix to Anchorage on April 26.
The indictment alleges that Kepueli Talaiasi, 58, intentionally engaged in sexual contact with a 16-year-old girl who was seated next to him during the evening flight. According to court documents, the girl pushed his hand away several times and tried to move away from him in her seat. The minor, who was travelling with her father, wrote a note to him on her phone about Talaiasi touching her. The father immediately called the flight attendants, who quickly intervened to separate Talaiasi from the girl. Alaska Airport Police met the flight upon arrival at the gate and detained Talaiasi, who was later arrested by the FBI.
If convicted, Talaiasi faces a maximum sentence of up to two years in prison, followed by five years to lifetime supervised release. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Anchorage Airport Police and Fire Department conducted the investigation leading to the charges and indictment.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen Vandergaw and James Klugman are 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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Arizona Man Arrested on Alaska Federal Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
FAIRBANKS – Daniel Torres-Zubia, 41, of Phoenix, Arizona, was arrested by Alaska and Arizona federal agents on charges that he conspired to send large quantities of methamphetamine for re-distribution in Fairbanks, Alaska.
According to charging documents, the Fairbanks Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) office began investigating Torres in 2019 for allegedly trafficking large amounts of methamphetamine into the Fairbanks area from Las Vegas and Arizona. The investigation revealed that Torres sold about 60 pounds of methamphetamine to a Fairbanks area drug dealer between 2019 and 2020. Investigators also noted that Torres was able to supply large wholesale amounts of methamphetamine quickly, indicating he may be part of larger drug trafficking operation.
If convicted, Torres faces a statutory minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison for the most serious charges. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Fairbanks Police Department, the Alaska State Troopers, the North Pole Police Department and the Arizona Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation leading to the charges in this case.
This case is part of Alaska’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). HIDTA was established in 2018 to enhance and coordinate efforts among local state and federal law enforcement agencies, providing equipment, technology and additional resources to combat drug trafficking and its harmful consequences in critical regions of Alaska.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan D. Tansey.
The charges in the indictment and criminal complaint are merely allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Anchorage Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – Stuart Ravn, 33, of Anchorage was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of more than 5,744 unique images and videos of child pornography on his computer.
>In issuing the sentence, U.S. Chief District Judge Timothy M. Burgess noted that the possession of these images perpetually victimizes the children who must live knowing that depictions of their own abuse are being distributed and possessed for the sexual gratification of pedophiles. He said: “It isn’t a momentary crime. It is a crime and violation that goes on for the rest of the victims’ lives. Not a day goes by that they are not impacted.”
Ravn was previously convicted of possession and distribution of child pornography in 2014 by the State of Alaska. While on probation for that conviction, Ravn used a computer to access, possess and view video and photographs of minors under the age of 12 engaging in sexually explicit conduct. During a routine home visit, State of Alaska probation officers seized a laptop, thumb drive and external hard drive. After obtaining a search warrant, the Anchorage Police Department found thousands of child pornography images Ravn had downloaded from the internet.
Following his release from federal prison, Ravn will face a life term of supervised release. Ravn was also ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to one of the identified victims and $5,000 to a crime victims fund established by the Justice for Crimes of Trafficking Act of 2015.
The Anchorage Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the State of Alaska Department of Corrections, Anchorage Adult Probations conducted the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander.
This case is/was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood combines 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.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Washington Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Drug Distribution in KetchikanRead the Press Release
JUNEAU – Spencer Hill, 24, of Blaine, Washington, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin in Ketchikan, Alaska.
According to court documents, Ketchikan Police Department (KPD) searched the Alaska residence of Hill in November 2019, as part of a drug investigation. During the search, officers found 228 grams of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, a money counting machine, a stolen Kel-Tec .22 caliber pistol and keys to a safety deposit box. After obtaining a search warrant for Hill’s safety deposit box, KPD found an additional 1,485 grams of methamphetamine and 815 grams of heroin. In total, Hill had 3.7 pounds of methamphetamine which is the equivalent of 8,410 dosage units and 1.78 pounds of heroin or 8,130 doses – more than the entire population of the Ketchikan Borough.
Records indicate Hill began travelling to Ketchikan in September 2019 to direct the possession and distribution of large amounts of methamphetamine and heroin. Hill collected drug proceeds from others which he then used to purchase more methamphetamine and heroin from his supply source in Washington via the U.S. Postal Service.
Separately, Hill is wanted on a felony warrant in South Dakota involving the trafficking of 22 pounds of marijuana.
Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
The Ketchikan Police Department, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, Alaska State Troopers and the Juneau Police Department investigated this case.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack S. Schmidt.
This case is part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Alaska Rural Alaska Anti-Violence Enforcement Network (RAAVEN) initiative’s ongoing efforts to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in Alaska Native communities. The case is also part of Alaska’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program and the South East Alaska Cities Against Drugs (SEACAD) task force. HIDTA was established in 2018 to enhance and coordinate efforts among local state and federal law enforcement agencies, providing equipment, technology and additional resources to combat drug trafficking and its harmful consequences in critical regions of Alaska.
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Two-Time Felon Sentenced to More Than Six Years for Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
JUNEAU – Jeremy Beebe, 47, of Sitka, Alaska, was sentenced today to 78 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegally possessing firearms.
At the sentencing hearing, U.S. Chief District Judge Timothy M. Burgess noted that the most important sentencing factor in this case was protecting the public from the potential of further crimes by Beebe. Judge Burgess stated that the defendant’s extensive criminal history and the defendant’s possession of firearms along with illegal drugs was a dangerous mix that required a significant sentence to protect the public.
According to court documents, the Sitka Police Department searched the home of Beebe as part of a drug investigation in October 2019. During the search, officers found two rifles, two handguns and other explosive devices as well as methamphetamine, heroin and drug paraphernalia.
Beebe was convicted in 2015 of misconduct involving a controlled substance in the fourth degree and in 2002 he was convicted of sexual assault in the second degree. As someone previously convicted of a felony offense, Beebe is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
The Sitka Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack S. Schmidt prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Car Thief and Two-time Felon Sentenced to over Four Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
FAIRBANKS – A Kalskag, Alaska, man was sentenced to four years and three months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and $1,900 in restitution to the victim of the stolen vehicle.
According to court records, on July 9, 2020, Ethan Kerr, 29, stole a 2004 Scion from a Fairbanks home and drove it south on the Parks Highway. Near Cantwell, an Alaska State Trooper attempted to stop Kerr for speeding. Refusing to stop, Kerr fled the Troopers at speeds exceeding 105 mph. Leaving the highway to elude law enforcement, the car became stuck in a mud bog near the railroad. He abandoned the vehicle after removing a .44-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver that belonged to the car owner. Kerr was picked up by a nearby individual in a truck who flagged down the Troopers to help with the stuck car. They quickly identified Kerr and attempted to arrest him. Kerr broke free and ran into the woods where he was later found with a K-9 search by Alaska State Troopers.
Kerr has two prior felony convictions with the State of Alaska including burglary for which he was currently on parole and assault. As someone previously convicted of a felony offense, Kerr is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. In December 2020, Kerr pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson for the District of Alaska; Colonel Bryan Barlow, Director of the Alaska State Troopers and Special Agent-in-Charge Jonathan T. McPherson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the sentencing announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Doty prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
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Anchorage Man Convicted on All Counts of Sex Trafficking Minors, Child Pornography and Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – An Anchorage man was convicted on five counts of sex trafficking of minors, three counts of production of child pornography and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The verdict came after a three-day federal bench trial with Senior U.S. District Judge Ralph R. Beistline.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between mid-October 2018 and December 1, 2018, Tristan Jamal Grant, aka “Goo,” 35, conspired with another person to traffic two minors, a 15-year-old female and a 17-year-old female. Both minors were runaways who stayed with Grant at his co-conspirator’s apartment. While at the apartment, they created an online advertisement that was used to market the minors. Grant then assisted his co-conspirator in trafficking the victims; encouraging them to perform sex acts for money; serving as protection for the minors and driving one of the minors to a date to perform sex acts. Additionally, Grant produced child pornography with one of the minors on two separate occasions.
Grant was arrested by Anchorage Police Department following a shooting on December 12, 2018. When arrested Grant was in possession of two weapons. Because Grant had previously been convicted of a felony, possession of those guns was illegal.
Grant remained in custody and was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 15, 2019. Grant escaped from custody during a court ordered release to meet with his attorney at his attorney’s office to prepare for trial. Grant was captured and later indicted on February 23, 2021, for escape by prisoner in custody and failure to appear.
“This conviction should be a strong reminder that sex trafficking and exploitation of children will not be tolerated,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson of the District of Alaska. “The successful conviction of this case was due to the courage of the victims and the collaborative efforts of federal, state and local law enforcement and prosecutors. Our office will remain steadfast in our pursuit of all those who perpetuate sex trafficking of children.”
“Tristan Grant terrorized our neighborhoods and recruited minors for commercial sex acts, profiting from their exploitation. This guilty verdict is a win for our entire community,” said Robert Britt, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “The FBI is grateful for our collaborative partnerships across the state, and in this case the Anchorage Police Department, as we continue to combat crimes against Alaska’s youth.”
Sentencing is scheduled for July 14 at 9:00 a.m. in Anchorage. As a result of his convictions, Grant faces a sentencing range of not less than 15 years in prison and up to life. Grant also faces a term of supervised release following prison of not less than five years and up to life. Each conviction carries a maximum fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Anchorage Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, working together through the FBI’s Safe Streets/Crimes Against Children/Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children through sex trafficking, as well as to identify and recover victims.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices nationwide and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Two Mexican Nationals and Eight U.S. Citizens Indicted on Federal Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE - A federal grand jury in Anchorage returned an indictment that was unsealed this week charging two Mexican nationals and eight U.S. citizens for their roles in a drug trafficking organization.
Mexican National Rene Pompa-Villa, Christopher Pompa-Villa, Mexican National Victor Pompa-Villa, Carolos Camacho, Heydimar Marrero, Kimberly Mackey, Dustin Noonan, Tyler Landroche, Kyle Redpath and Jessica Twigg were indicted on multiple charges of distribution and intent to distribute heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl powder in a multi-state operation. Nine of the 10 individuals were arrested on April 7 – 8 and are currently awaiting arraignments. Victor Pompa-Villa remains at large.
According to court documents, Rene Pompa-Villa and Christopher Pompa-Villa are the alleged ring leaders of a lucrative drug trafficking and distribution organization in Anchorage and in Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Beginning in March 2018 through October 2020, they regularly mailed large amounts of drugs to distributors throughout the country. They also deposited hundreds of thousands of dollars of drug proceeds into various bank accounts. During the nearly three-year investigation, law enforcement officers recovered about six kilograms of heroin, four kilograms of methamphetamine and four kilograms of fentanyl.
If convicted, the individuals face a maximum sentence of lifetime in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson of the District of Alaska made the indictment announcement today.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); U.S. Department of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); the Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Alaska State Troopers and the Anchorage Police Department are investigating the case. The U.S. Marshals had a significant role in making the arrests and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Tucson and San Diego played a critical role in the indictment of this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher D. Schroeder, Kelly Cavanaugh and Karen Vandergaw are 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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Anchorage Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison for Using Craigslist to Setup Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – An Anchorage man was sentenced to nine years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm during two separate armed robberies of Craigslist sellers.
According to court records, on August 24, 2019, Cloyd Lacap Jr., 22, robbed two individuals at gun point after arranging to meet them for the supposed purpose of purchasing items each had listed for sale online.
The first robbery took place in the parking lot of Balto Seppala Park in Anchorage where Lacap had arranged to meet the seller of a PlayStation gaming console. When the seller opened his trunk at the park to show the gaming console, Lacap pulled out a handgun, racked the slide and took the gaming console before leaving the park on foot.
Later the same day, Lacap arranged to meet the seller of an iPhone in the parking lot of a restaurant in Anchorage’s Turnagain neighborhood. After arriving in an unidentified car, Lacap got in the back seat of the seller’s vehicle. When the seller showed him the smartphone, Lacap pointed a handgun at the victim, grabbed the phone and then exited the victim’s vehicle. Lacap left in the same vehicle that he arrived in.
Lacap was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2020 and later pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. He has been detained without bail on his federal case since January 24, 2020.
Prior to pleading guilty in this case, Lacap pleaded guilty in State of Alaska Superior Court case 3AN-19-05391CR to assault in the first degree and misconduct involving weapons in the first degree as part of a global plea agreement. Lacap’s guilty pleas in the state case were for his role in a May 2019 armed robbery in Anchorage. That case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Saritha Anjilvel.
Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson for the District of Alaska; Special Agent-in-Charge Jonathan T. McPherson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); and Chief Justin Doll of the Anchorage Police Department made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison O’Leary prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
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Note to editors:
From our partners with the Anchorage Police Department, here are some precautions to take when making purchases online:
- Never go to the meet alone. Have at least one other person with you. Make sure another individual, who is not with you, knows where you are, what you are doing, and any details you have about the other party you are meeting.
- Meet in a public place that has cameras and a lot of foot traffic such as a superstore parking lot.
- Meet during a busy time of day – not late at night or early in the morning when there are not many other people around.
- If the party you are meeting arrives in a vehicle, jot down the license plate and a description of the vehicle.
- Pay attention to the physical attributes of the people you are meeting with in case you need to give a detailed description of them to the police later.
- Only deal in cash. Checks and cashier checks can easily be forged. Pay attention to the money you accept. Make sure it looks and feels the way money should.
- Should you be threatened, follow the instructions of the suspect(s), leave the area as soon as possible, and call 9-1-1 as quickly as you can.
Three Indicted in Bribery Scheme Related to U.S. Military Contracts in AlaskaRead the Press Release
Fairbanks, Alaska – Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson announced that Ryan Dalbec, 42, Raihana Nadem, a/k/a/ Raihana Dalbec, 27, of Virginia, and Brian Lowell Nash II, 30, of Washington, have been charged in a 26 count indictment with conspiracy, bribery, and money laundering involving millions of dollars’ worth of U.S. military contracts in Alaska.
According to the indictment, Ryan and Raihana Dalbec owned and managed Best Choice Construction, LLC (Best Choice), a federal government contractor that provided construction and other services. Through Best Choice, the Dalbecs bid on and were awarded multiple U.S. military construction contracts throughout Alaska.
From March through November 2019, Ryan and Raihana Dalbec allegedly paid and promised Nash, an enlisted Contract Specialist in the U.S. Air Force assigned to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), over $460,000 in bribes. In exchange, Nash allegedly supplied the Dalbecs with confidential, non-public bidding information that helped Best Choice win numerous Alaska military contracts, including a construction contract related to the F-35 aircraft program at Eielson Air Force Base and contracts to perform construction and related services at JBER. The indictment also alleges the defendants committed multiple overt acts in furtherance of the bribery conspiracy. Additionally, between March and October 2019, the Dalbecs and Nash are alleged to have laundered payments and proceeds from the bribery scheme to conceal their unlawful activities.
If convicted, each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine for the most serious charges in the indictment. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan D. Tansey.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.