District of Alaska

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal jury convicted a Palmer man yesterday for violating multiple aviation regulations.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, for roughly 30 years, William Marsan, 57, held an Airman Certificate as an Airline Transport Pilot issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). He operated an aviation business out of Palmer, Alaska, and owned a Piper Cherokee aircraft.

In June 2023, the FAA received a report that Marsan, as the pilot in command of the Piper Cherokee aircraft, failed to radio his intention to take off from Warren “Bud” Woods Palmer Municipal Airport and operated the aircraft against the flow of landing traffic, resulting in a near mid-air collision with another aircraft attempting to land.

Law enforcement investigated the June 2023 incident and discovered that Marsan was operating an aircraft without a valid license or valid registration. The investigation revealed that in June 2022, Marsan sent a letter to the FAA revoking the registration of his aircraft. Investigators also discovered that Marsan allowed his medical certificate to lapse in 2020 and 2021, which was required to keep his pilot’s license.

When FAA inspectors contacted him in July 2023 as part of the investigation, Marsan refused to provide his airman certificate, aircraft registration and airworthiness certificates, all of which are requirements through the FAA, and claimed he was not required to have any of those documents. As a result of the investigation, the FAA issued an Emergency Order of Revocation of Marsan’s pilot’s license in January 2024, which required the immediate surrender of his pilot’s license or the filing of an appeal of the decision within 10 days. Marsan failed to file an appeal or surrender his license but continued to fly his aircraft until his initial arrest in July 2024. Marsan was released pending trial. He failed to appear for multiple court hearings prior to his trial and he was rearrested in September 2024.

Marsan was convicted of one count of operating an aircraft without a license and one count of operating an unregistered aircraft. The jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on one count of operating an aircraft displaying a false aircraft registration mark.

“Aviation is a pillar of our state’s transportation infrastructure. Mr. Marsan’s actions flagrantly violated critical aviation regulations designed to safeguard both the industry and those who rely on it,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “Let this conviction serve as a clear message that those who choose to violate these rules will face prosecution. I also want to extend appreciation to the law enforcement officers and investigators whose dedication led to the successful prosecution of this case.”

“The use of unregistered or unauthorized aircraft poses a significant risk to public safety and undermines the integrity of Alaska’s airspace,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “The FBI will continue to work alongside law enforcement partners and aviation authorities to hold operators accountable who willfully disregard laws designed to keep our community safe.”

“I credit the FAA Aviation Safety Inspectors for bringing this matter to my attention and thank the FBI for being excellent partners in addressing the referral.  I also sincerely appreciate the U.S. Attorney’s Office for seeing the case to its conclusion,” said Regional Administrator Michael O’Hare of the FAA, Alaska Region.

The FBI Anchorage Field Office and FAA, Alaska Region investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Bradley and Mac Caille Petursson are prosecuting the case.

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FAIRBANKS, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging a Shaktoolik man with cyberstalking adults and children and sexually exploiting children to produce and possess child pornography.

According to court documents, between December 2021 to July 2023, Matthew Jackson, 22, allegedly cyberstalked one adult and two minor victims with the intent to injure, harass and cause substantial emotional distress to the victims. The indictment also alleges an enhanced statutory penalty for conduct that would constitute sexual abuse. At the same time, Jackson also allegedly sexually exploited three minors, two of which were the minor victims he was cyberstalking, in order to produce child sexual abuse material.

The indictment also alleges that on Aug. 1, 2023, Jackson knowingly possessed material that contained child sexual abuse.

Jackson was arrested on Nov. 26 and is charged with three counts of cyber stalking with an enhanced penalty allegation, three counts of sexual exploitation of a child: production of child pornography and one count of sexual exploitation of a child: possession of child pornography. The defendant is scheduled for his initial court appearance tomorrow before U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott A. Oravec of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces between 15 years to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Anchorage Field Office, with assistance from the Alaska State Troopers, is investigating the case. If anyone has information concerning Jackson’s alleged actions or may have encountered someone in person or online using the name Matthew Jackson or Matt Jackson, please contact the FBI Anchorage Field Office at (907) 276-4441 or anonymously at tips.fbi.gov.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Vosacek 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.

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging a Fairbanks woman with bank fraud and money laundering related to her alleged theft of funds from a business she formerly worked for as a bookkeeper.

According to court documents, beginning in 2015, Angelic Henderson, 68, was hired as the bookkeeper for a business in Fairbanks, and received regular payroll checks and payments for her employment. Sometime in 2016 and 2017, a co-conspirator was hired as a technician for the same business and received regular payroll checks and payments for their employment.

The indictment alleges that in 2020, Henderson was the sole owner of Consulting Medical Services LLC (CMS). During that time, Henderson began providing independent contractor services to the victim business through CMS. Those services included managing billing, customers, insurance, bookkeeping and suppliers. In July 2020, Henderson also established Angels Nesting Business Support Services LLC (ANBSS). The co-conspirator was the sole owner of JL Medical Support Services LLC (JLMSS).

The victim business, the co-conspirators business and both of Henderson’s companies had bank accounts at the same bank.

According to the indictment, from August 2019 to August 2023, Henderson and the co-conspirator allegedly executed a scheme where she used her position to steal from the victim business and funnel money to her business accounts and to the co-conspirator.

Henderson allegedly created daily and weekly financial documents that underrepresented the businesses’ income to hide the loss from the owner. She also allegedly created “transfer request” documents requesting that the bank move funds from the victim business account into her and the co-conspirators accounts. These requests allegedly contained false representations, specifically, duplicate payments for her services and reimbursements for expenses that were never incurred of already paid with the victim business funds.

The indictment alleges that once the funds were transferred to one of Henderson’s accounts, she transferred the funds via check to other accounts that she owned or controlled, breaking the transfers up in the same day or over consecutive days into multiple small transfers. She would also transfer money to her co-conspirator via checks. The co-conspirator would deposit the funds into their personal accounts and then buy cryptocurrency with the deposited funds. 

In total, Henderson caused roughly 368 funds transfers over roughly four years, resulting in a loss of over $1.8 million for the victim business.

Henderson was arrested on Nov. 29 and is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, seven counts of bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and 10 counts of money laundering. The defendant is scheduled for her initial court appearance tomorrow before U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott A. Oravec of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, she faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Anchorage Field Office, with assistance from the Fairbanks Police Department, is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Vosacek 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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ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging a Manokotak man with illegally possessing a firearm as a felon.

According to court documents, on Oct. 6, 2023, Wasillie Chocknok, 54, knowingly possessed a firearm as a felon. In June 2008, Chocknok was convicted of assault in the second degree in Alaska Superior Court in Dillingham, and in March 2022, he was convicted of criminally negligent homicide in Alaska Superior Court in Dillingham. Both were felony convictions.

Chocknok is charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The defendant is scheduled for his initial court appearance tomorrow before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kyle F. Reardon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Seattle Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais made the announcement.

The ATF Anchorage Field Office, with assistance from the Alaska State Troopers and Village Public Safety Officers, is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac Caille Petursson 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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ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal jury convicted an Anchorage man yesterday after a four-day retrial for cyberstalking a woman over four years.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between 2016 and 2020, Rolando Hernandez-Zemora, 41, stalked the victim using location tracking applications, text messages and video calls, and other means in order to try and control her life. Evidence presented at trial showed that from April 29, 2020, to May 27, 2020, Hernandez-Zemora called the victim 1,317 times.

In 2020, the harassment extended to some of the victim’s work colleagues and family members and included threats of violence. Hernandez-Zemora’s harassment of the victim continued even after she obtained a protective order. As a result of his threats, the victim’s workplace went into lockdown for multiple days from late April to early May 2020. Hernandez-Zemora was arrested at the end of May 2020 after he evaded the police for two days.

Hernandez-Zemora was convicted by a federal jury of the same crime in June 2024. In August 2024, U.S. District Court Judge Marco A. Hernandez of the District of Oregon was assigned to the case following the resignation of former Judge Joshua Kindred and granted Hernandez-Zemora a new trial. Judge Hernandez presided over the November 2024 retrial.

“I commend the victim for her extraordinary courage in coming forward, and we hope this conviction brings a measure of justice and closure to all those impacted by this case,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “Mr. Hernandez-Zemora represents a serious danger to the community, demonstrated by his intent to harm not only the victim, but her colleagues and family as well. My office remains resolutely committed to holding accountable those who perpetrate violence and endanger our communities.”

“The defendant’s years-long cyberstalking harassment and eventual threats of violence caused substantial emotional distress and fear of harm,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “This verdict reaffirms our commitment to hold accountable those who commit such crimes.”

The FBI Anchorage Field Office and Anchorage Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Ivers and Seth Beausang are prosecuting the case.

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ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment criminally charging an Anchorage man in connection to a string of recent bank robberies.

According to court documents, on Sept. 23, Sean Javier, 36, allegedly used force, violence and intimidation to steal roughly $650 from a local credit union branch. Two weeks later, on Oct. 7, Javier stole roughly $512 from a different local credit union branch, and on Oct. 16, he stole an additional $2,000 from another local credit union branch. In total, Javier allegedly stole roughly $3,162.

The indictment also alleges that on Oct. 20, Javier was also in possession of two firearms. In June 2013, Javier was convicted of stalking in the first degree in the Superior Court for the State of Alaska, and in June 2020, he was convicted of bank robbery in the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska, making him a felon at the time of possession.

Javier was arrested on Oct. 20 on a probation violation related to his 2020 conviction.

Javier is charged with three counts of credit union robbery and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The defendant will make his initial court appearance on a later date before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Anchorage Field Office, with assistance from the Anchorage Police Department, is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Brickey 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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ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal jury convicted an Anchorage man late Friday for robbing a credit union in August 2024.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on Aug. 12, 2024, Joseph Sledge, 30, arrived at a credit union in Anchorage around 11:35 a.m. and stated that he needed to make a withdrawal to a nearby security guard. Sledge entered the credit union wearing a baseball cap, grey COVID-19 facemask with a local Native corporation’s logo on it, flannel shirt, jeans and a plastic Pirate Bay necklace.

Sledge walked into the lobby and looked around before a teller signaled Sledge over to his station. Sledge approached and tossed a note on the counter that stated, “Give me $50,000 and all your cash.” The teller read the note multiple times and observed Sledge silently staring at him before he sent a message to his co-workers stating, “Code Red,” which meant there was a robbery in progress.

The teller placed $2,500 on the counter and Sledge left with the money and note.

When investigators identified the logo on Sledge’s mask, they distributed still shots from the robbery to the Native corporation and one employee recognized the defendant from an interaction earlier that day. Roughly 30 minutes before the robbery, Sledge went to the Native corporation’s office to pick up a shareholders check. When a staff member told him the check was not ready, he grabbed a COVID-19 mask with the company’s logo on it that were available for members and left.

Sledge then went to a different floor in the same building and entered a property management office where he asked a staff member if they were happy with their security. Sledge then asked the staff member for $20 and snacks, but the employee said no and asked Sledge to leave.

Sledge then exited the office and sat down at a coffee shop on the first floor of the building and fell asleep. At roughly 11:34 a.m., a building security guard asked Sledge to leave. The guard followed the defendant off the premise and observed him walking in the direction of the credit union. Sledge entered the credit union roughly one minute later.

On Aug. 16, 2024, law enforcement located and arrested Sledge at a location along the Seward Highway. At the time of his arrest, Sledge was wearing the same necklace, flannel shirt and jeans as worn during the robbery.

Sledge was convicted of one count of credit union robbery. 

“There’s no such thing as free money in the United States of America,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “Mr. Sledge used intimidation to steal from a local credit union and will now face the consequences of his actions. Thank you to the FBI and Anchorage Police Department for contributing to this successful prosecution. Our office will continue to work with law enforcement to hold criminals accountable and fight for justice.”

"Today’s conviction demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to aggressively pursue criminals who terrorize and steal from our community,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Utilizing FBI Anchorage’s Safe Streets Task Force, the FBI will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to pursue and apprehend criminals like Joseph Sledge so they are held accountable for their crimes.”

The FBI Anchorage Field Office and Anchorage Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Miller and Alana Weber are prosecuting the case.

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ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Chefornak woman was arrested by the FBI late Tuesday night at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport on criminal charges related to her alleged interference with flight crews on a flight from Bethel to Anchorage.

According to court documents, on Nov.12, Caryn Evan, 38, allegedly acted erratically as the aircraft started its decent into Anchorage. Flight attendants and passengers surrounding the defendant observed her yelling incoherently and striking her husband, who was seated next to her. Flight attendants asked Evan to move to a seat in the back of the cabin, but she refused, and her husband was moved to the back of the cabin after the situation was de-escalated.

Court documents further allege that shortly after the crew de-escalated the situation, a flight attendant was called back again to where Evan was seated and observed her moving uncontrollably, flailing about and interfering with passengers around her. Flight attendants asked for an able-bodied person to assist in controlling Evan, and a nurse volunteered to sit with her.

Court documents further explain that upon landing, a flight attendant went to check on Evan and allegedly found her hitting her head on the seat in front of her and flailing her arms uncontrollably. Flight attendants restrained Evan in flex cuffs after one of the attendants allegedly became concerned for surrounding passengers’ safety.

According to court documents, alcohol was allegedly a factor in Evan’s conduct.

Evan is charged with one count of interference with flight crew members and attendants. The defendant will make her initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kyle F. Reardon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, Evan faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Anchorage Field Office and Anchorage Airport Police Department are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody Tirpak is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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JUNEAU, Alaska – Three men were sentenced today for their roles in a scheme to sell hundreds of Philippine produced products as authentic Alaska Native produced artwork, violating the Indian Arts and Crafts Act.

According to court documents, between May 2019 and December 2021, Travis Lee Macasaet, 39, of Ketchikan, Simeon Cabansag, 39, of Ketchikan, and Jessie Reginio, 28, of Seattle, Washington, were employees of both Alaska Stone Arts LLC. and Rail Creek LLC., two stores located in Ketchikan, for differing periods of time. Alaska Stone Arts LLC. primarily sold stone carvings, and Rail Creek LLC. primarily sold wood totem poles.

Court documents explain that from April 2016 to December 2021, Cristobal Rodrigo, 59, his wife Glenda Rodrigo, 46, and their son Christian Rodrigo, 24, were the owners and operators of the stores and were co-conspirators in the case. The investigation revealed that the carvings and totem poles sold in both stores were sourced from Rodrigo Creative Crafts, a company owned by Glenda Rodrigo and located in the Philippines. The company used Filipino labor to produce the artwork before shipping them to the Rodrigo’s stores in Alaska, where they were sold as authentic Alaska Native art.

According to court documents, the Rodrigo’s hired Alaska Natives and non-Alaska Native employees at both Ketchikan stores to help with day-to-day operations and represent and sell Philippine produced artwork as their own authentic Alaska Native artwork. Macasaet and Cabansag were two of the Alaska Natives hired by the Rodrigo family. Reginio was one of the non-Alaska Native employees hired by the family.

The defendants conspired with others to sell the artwork to customers and falsely represent that the art was all produced from locally sourced materials and made by Alaska Natives. Court documents outline that Macasaet misrepresented to customers that he was the sole artisan of the totem poles carved and sold at Rail Creek LLC. Court documents also describe that Cabansag and Reginio misrepresented to customers that they were the sole artisans of stone carvings sold in both stores under the names “Simeon” and “jr,” respectively.

During the course of the conspiracy, the defendants and others involved in the scheme sold hundreds of Philippine made stone and wood carvings as authentic Alaska Native carvings.

Macasaet was sentenced to five years’ of probation and 250 hours of community service. Cabansag was sentenced to three years’ supervised release and time served. Reginio was sentenced to three years’ probation release and a $5,000 fine. All defendants are required to joint and several payment of restitution to the victims in this case and are required to write apology letters to the victims and the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes to be published publicly.

“The defendants’ actions represent a profound betrayal of the Alaska Native artisans who take immense pride in preserving and practicing their craft,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “Their fraudulent conduct not only jeopardizes the livelihoods of genuine artists, but also disrespects the rich cultural heritage to which two of the defendants belong. These sentencings represent a critical step toward securing justice for tribal communities and the innocent victims who were deceived in this case through forgery and misrepresentation. Our office remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding the integrity of Indian Arts and Crafts laws through prosecutions, safeguarding both Alaska Native culture and the integrity of art for all consumers.”

“The Indian Arts and Crafts Board administers and enforces the Indian Arts and Crafts Act, a truth-in-marketing law,” said IACB Director Meridith Stanton. “The Act is intended to rid the Alaska Native and Indian arts marketplace of counterfeits to protect the cultural heritage and economic likelihoods of Alaska Native and Indian artists and their Tribes and Villages, as well as the buying public. Authentic Alaska Native art, such as totem poles which hold profound significance among the Tlingit and Haida, is an important tool for passing down cultural traditions, artistic skills, and traditional knowledge from one generation to the next. Travis Macasaet, a member of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes, was a key participant in the Rodrigo family’s wide-ranging conspiracy to sell Philippine made totem poles and stone carvings as Alaska Native made. As an Alaska Native, he had the credibility to vouch for the carvings’ authenticity with customers. Indeed, Macasaet went so far as to sign the totem poles and take pictures with the carvings as the purported artist, falsely asserting that he had made them. Simeon Cabansag, an Alaska Native who also worked at one of the Rodrigo’s stores, similarly sold imported stone carvings as made by himself and other Alaskan Natives. Counterfeits, such as those marketed for huge sums of money by Macasaet, Cabansag, and Jessie Regino acting on the behest of the Rodrigos, tear at the very fabric of Alaska Native culture, livelihoods, and communities.”

“Travis Macasaet, Simeon Cabansag, and Jessie Reginio were employed by the Rodrigos and collaborated with them to misrepresent Philippine made stone carvings and totem poles as Alaska Native made,” said Edward Grace, Assistant Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement. “Cabansag used his tribal affiliation and falsely told the public he was the artist of the imported stone carvings.  Macasaet used his tribal affiliation and falsely told the public that he was the artist of the wooden totem poles. These deceptive business practices cheated customers and undermined the economic livelihood of Alaska Native artists. Our special agents investigate crimes in violation of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act on behalf of the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Indian Arts and Crafts Board. Protecting Alaska Native culture and traditions is a critical part of the act. We thank our partners at the U.S. Department of Justice, the IACB, CBP, and the U.S. Forest Service for their assistance with this investigation.”

Co-conspirators in this case include:

• Cristobal Rodrigo was sentenced to two years in prison in August 2023 for his role in the scheme. His sentence was reduced to 18 months in June 2024, but remains the longest sentence a defendant has received for any Indian Arts and Crafts Act violation in the U.S., according to the Indian Arts and Crafts Board.
• Glenda Rodrigo was sentenced to up to six months’ home confinement and 240 hours of community service on July 8, 2024.
• Christian Rodrigo was sentenced to up to three months’ home confinement and 200 hours of community service on July 8, 2024. 
• Cameron Losi, fka “Cameron Lawrence,” 39, was charged with 29 federal counts in February 2024.

The Department of Interior – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Office of Law Enforcement, with assistance from the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, U.S. Customs and Border Protections, and U.S. Department of Agriculture, investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt prosecuted the case.

If you suspect potential Indian Arts and Crafts Act violations are being committed, a complaint may be submitted through the Indian Arts and Crafts Board’s online complaint form, www.doi.gov/iacb/should-i-report-potential-violation, by emailing iacb@ios.doi.gov, or by calling 888-278-3253.

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ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal jury convicted an Eagle River man late last week for trafficking firearms from Alaska to California after a five-day trial.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from February 2021 to April 2022, Cornelius Smith, 33, bought 28 firearms from gun stores and private parties in Alaska. During that same time period, Smith received around $9,000 total in payments from various Sacramento-based family members and associates. The payments often corresponded to the price Smith paid for the guns.

After five of those firearms were recovered in the Sacramento area, Smith’s frequent firearm purchases were reported to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and an investigation commenced.

In April 2022, ATF agents searched Smith’s home and found empty gun boxes in his room for many of the firearms he purchased in 2021. None of the recently purchased firearms were found in the boxes or in his home.

Through the investigation, law enforcement learned that on June 24, 2021, Smith flew from Anchorage to Sacramento and declared that he was carrying “shooting equipment.” After that flight, the firearms that Smith bought in the days prior began turning up in California, as early as July 4, 2021. Smith made multiple other flights to and from Sacramento thereafter.

Law enforcement recovered 13 of Smith’s 28 firearms in California. Two of the firearms were possessed by Smith’s Sacramento-based relatives, Andrew and Adam Williams. Adam Williams, now deceased, was a felon and therefore prohibited from possessing firearms. None of the firearms have been recovered in Alaska, and 15 are still unaccounted for.

Smith was found guilty on Nov. 1 of one count of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license and 10 counts of making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. Smith was found not guilty of one count of transferring a firearm to an out-of-state-resident.

“Straw purchasing firearms – buying a gun with the intent to transfer it to another person illegally – poses a serious risk to our communities,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “We thank our law enforcement partners in Alaska and California for their assistance in this successful investigation and prosecution. We remain committed to combatting firearms trafficking from source states, like Alaska, to areas with higher demand and profit margins.”

“Straw purchasing and trafficking firearms is extremely irresponsible, dangerous and illegal,” said ATF Seattle Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais. “The firearms Mr. Smith purchased were recovered by law enforcement agencies in California, and with 15 still unaccounted for, they still pose a danger to whichever communities they are in right now.  This is not a victimless crime.”

The ATF Seattle Field Division and Anchorage Field Office, with assistance from the California Highway Patrol, Sacramento Sheriff’s Office, Sacramento Police Department, San Francisco Police Department, Folsom Police Department, Pittsburg Police Department, Daly City Police Department, Vacaville Police Department and Citrus Heights Police Department, investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Ivers and Ainsley McNerney are prosecuting the case.

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ANCHORAGE, Alaska – United States Attorney S. Lane Tucker announced today that the Justice Department will monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in five Alaska jurisdictions for the Nov. 5 general election.

The jurisdictions to be monitored are:

• Bethel Census Area
• Dillingham Census Area
• Kusilvak Census Area
• North Slope Borough
• Northwest Arctic Borough

The Justice Department enforces federal voting rights laws that protect the rights of all eligible citizens to access the ballot. The department regularly deploys its staff to monitor for compliance with federal civil rights laws in elections in communities all across the country.

The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division will coordinate the effort. Monitors will include Justice Department personnel, who will contact state and local election officials as needed throughout Election Day.

The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act and Civil Rights Acts. The division’s Disability Rights Section enforces the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure that persons with disabilities have a full and equal opportunity to vote. The division’s Criminal Section enforces federal criminal statutes that prohibit voter intimidation and voter suppression based on race, color, national origin or religion.

On Election Day, Civil Rights Division personnel will be available all day to receive questions and complaints from the public related to possible violations of federal voting rights laws. Reports may be made through the department’s website www.civilrights.justice.gov or by calling toll-free at 800-253-3931.

Individuals with questions or complaints related to the ADA may call the department’s toll-free ADA information hotline at 800-514-0301 or 833-610-1264 (TTY) or submit a complaint through a link on the department’s ADA website at www.ada.gov.

Complaints related to any disruptions at a polling place should always be reported to local election officials (including officials based in the polling place). Complaints related to violence, threats of violence or intimidation at a polling place should be reported immediately to local police authorities by calling 911. These complaints should also be reported to the department after local authorities have been contacted.

More information about voting and elections, including guidance documents and other resources, is available at www.justice.gov/voting. Learn more about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws at www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section.

Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.

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ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska announced today that 10 people have been charged through three indictments in connection with a drug trafficking organization operating in Anchorage.

According to court documents, Rodney Godwin, 50, is allegedly the leader of a drug trafficking organization responsible for trafficking kilograms of controlled substances in Alaska. From April 2023 to May 2024, Godwin allegedly conspired with at least nine other people to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and other controlled substances in Alaska.

Court documents allege that members of the organization used firearms during and in relation to drug trafficking crimes. On Nov. 13, 2023, Jeremy Nichols, 40, allegedly possessed a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On May 31, 2024, Reigna Archuleta, 39, also allegedly carried or used a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.

According to a detention memo, Archuleta allegedly attempted to body smuggle roughly $21,000 in cash through the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport while traveling to Seattle with Godwin. The cash was seized at security.

Court documents also allege that Godwin and Miles Apatiki, 37, conspired to launder money as part of the enterprise.

In total, law enforcement has seized approximately 3.8 kilograms of fentanyl, 1.8 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1.6 kilograms of cocaine, 1.3 kilograms of heroin and tens of kilograms of assorted other controlled substances allegedly connected to this drug trafficking organization.

Defendants in these cases include:

• Rodney Godwin, of Anchorage, is charged with one count of continuing criminal enterprise, one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, and one count of money laundering conspiracy. If convicted, Godwin faces up to life in prison.
• Calvin Oktollik, 37, of Anchorage, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. If convicted, Oktollik faces up to 20 years in prison.
• Miles Apatiki, of Anchorage, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of money laundering conspiracy. If convicted, Apatiki faces up to 20 years in prison.
• Jennifer Godwin, 40, of Anchorage, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. If convicted, Godwin faces up to 20 years in prison.
• Andrew Akulaw, 41, of Anchorage, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted, Akulaw faces up to 20 years in prison.
• Reigna Archuleta, of Anchorage, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, one count of attempted possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and one count of carrying firearms during a drug trafficking crime. If convicted, Archuleta faces up to 20 years in prison.
• David Henry, 50, of Palmer, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted, Henry faces up to 20 years in prison.
• Page Peak, 25, of Sterling, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted, Peak faces up to 20 years in prison.
• Corabelle Bolden, 55, of Anchorage, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted, Bolden faces up to 20 years in prison.
• Jeremy Nichols, of Black Diamond, Washington, is charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession of a firearm during and in relations to a drug trafficking crime. If convicted, Nichols faces up to 20 years in prison.

The defendants were arrested and made their initial court appearances over the last five months before U.S. Magistrate Judges of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska.

U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Anchorage Field Office, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Anchorage Domicile, IRS Criminal Investigation, Alaska State Troopers and Anchorage Police Department, is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody Tirpak is prosecuting the case.

Case numbers:

United States v. Godwin et al.: 3:24-cr-00049

United States v. Nichols: 3:24-cr-00061

United States v. Bolden: 3:24-cr-00085

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

UPDATE: This release has been updated to include IRS Criminal Investigation, the Alaska State Troopers and the Anchorage Police Department as investigating agencies. 

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ANCHORAGE, Alaska – United States Attorney S. Lane Tucker announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Morgan J. Walker will lead the efforts of her Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. AUSA Walker has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the District of Alaska, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.

United States Attorney Tucker said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”

The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.

Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).

United States Attorney Tucker stated that: “The right to vote is the cornerstone of American democracy.  We all must ensure that those who are entitled to vote can exercise that right if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEO Walker will be on duty in this District while the polls are open.”

In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The public can contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov, or contact the local FBI Anchorage Field Office at (907) 276-4441.

Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.

United States Attorney Tucker said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”

Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.

###

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage man was sentenced Oct. 18 to 15 years in prison and five years’ supervised release for leading a multistate drug trafficking ring that trafficked kilos of heroin into Alaska and used firearms to further the conspiracy.

According to court documents, in 2020, Samuel Frederick Davis, 32, purchased heroin and counterfeit Percocet pills in Las Vegas, Nevada. Davis then packaged the drugs and shipped them to his distributors in Anchorage. The drugs were then distributed in Alaska, and the proceeds were deposited into co-conspirators’ bank accounts or returned to Nevada.

When law enforcement contacted Davis on Dec. 11, 2020, he attempted to flee in a vehicle but continued on foot before his arrest. After his arrest, law enforcement searched the defendant’s mother’s home in Anchorage and discovered approximately $65,000 in drug proceeds, a pistol, a drum magazine and multiple types of ammunition.

During the investigation, law enforcement seized roughly 3.8 kilos of heroin and over $140,900 in drug proceeds. In total, the drug trafficking organization was responsible for trafficking at least 8.2 kilos of heroin into the state.

“The defendant and his enterprise trafficked kilos of dangerous drugs into our state and used firearms to safeguard their illegal operations,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “Mr. Davis’ sentence is the final piece of justice in this case. My office, in partnership with our law enforcement partners, will continue to uncover and dismantle drug trafficking organizations that pose a threat to our communities.”

"Drug traffickers have no regard for the safety of our communities,” said Bureau of Alcohol, Tabacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Seattle Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais. “They exacerbate this with firearms to ‘protect’ their illegal actions, further endangering citizens. ATF will continue to work with our local, state and federal partners to investigate and dismantle these drug trafficking rings.”

“Heroin is a dangerous drug that shatters lives for the profit of traffickers like Mr. Davis,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Seattle Field Division. “This sentence shows the seriousness of Mr. Davis’ drug trafficking crime as well as the determination of the DEA and our partners in stopping this evil.”

“The trafficking of drugs into Alaska is a crime with many victims,” said Anchorage Police Department Lieutenant Jack Carson.  “The drugs Mr. Davis, his co-conspirators and other drug dealers import into the state are directly linked to hundreds of deaths each year. Mr. Davis’ arrest makes the streets of Anchorage a safer place.” 

Co-conspirators in this case include:

• LC Shelton Johnson-Witlow IV, 25, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.
• Delmar Spencer, 46, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute and being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.
• Dwayne Smith Jr, 25, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and interference with commerce by robbery and was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.
• Jorge Luis Rodas, 45, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and was sentenced to six and a half years’ imprisonment.
• Jaheim Randolph, 23, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment.
• Frank Mota-Rijo, 41, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.
• Kyin Sumpter-Boyd, 27, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, being a felon in possession and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment.

The ATF Seattle Field Division and Anchorage Field Office, the DEA Seattle Field Division and Anchorage Field Office, the Alaska State Troopers and the Anchorage Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Brickey, and former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kayla Doyle and Michael Ebell prosecuted the case.

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ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging an Anchorage man with being a felon in possession of a firearm during an encounter with the police.

According to court documents and a press release from the Anchorage Police Department (APD), on Sept. 23, 2024, Jalen Baker, 23, possessed a firearm during an encounter with police.

The release alleges APD officers responded to a shooting in Anchorage where two victims were shot. Officers located the shooting suspect in a nearby trailer home park. The suspect fired at responding officers, striking one in the lower body, and barricaded himself inside a trailer home.

The investigation identified the suspect as Baker and he was taken into custody at the scene. At the time of the event, Baker had a prior felony conviction for assault in the State of Alaska in 2022.

Baker is charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possession of a firearm at a school zone. The defendant will make his initial court appearance on a later date before a U.S. Magistrate Judge from the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Seattle Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais and Anchorage Police Chief Sean Case made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Anchorage Police Department, with assistance from the Alaska State Troopers, are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody Tirpak 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.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment this week charging an Anchorage man with trafficking firearms and illicit drugs in Alaska.

According to court documents, from May 29 to Sept. 6, 2024, Donte Richard Rocreec Outwater, 19, allegedly engaged in dealing firearms without being a licensed dealer, and while believing that the firearms would be used illegally. The documents also allege that on five occasions between July 3 and Aug. 13, the defendant distributed controlled substances along with firearms. On all five occasions, he allegedly possessed a firearm in relation to and in furtherance of the drug trafficking crimes he was committing. Outwater is also charged with illegally possessing a machinegun.

A criminal complaint previously filed against the defendant alleges that Outwater began selling firearms to an undercover law enforcement officer in June 2024. In total, Outwater illegally sold undercover law enforcement 18 firearms. One of the firearms was a fully automatic machinegun, and several of them were reported as stolen.

Outwater was arrested by the Anchorage Police Department on July 26, 2024, after fleeing from a traffic stop. According to court documents, within an hour of his release from custody, he contacted the undercover officer to arrange further firearm sales.

Outwater is charged with one count of unlicensed dealing in firearms, one count of trafficking firearms, five counts of distribution of controlled substances, five counts of using a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and one count of illegal possession of a machinegun. The defendant will make his initial court appearance on Oct. 22 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kyle F. Reardon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison for each count of using a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, and up to 20 years in prison for his other alleged crimes. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Seattle Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais made the announcement.

The ATF Anchorage Field Office, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshal Service and Anchorage Police Department, is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney James Klugman 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.

###

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The leader of an Anchorage drug trafficking conspiracy was sentenced today to 20 years in prison and five years’ supervised release for dealing fentanyl and methamphetamine in Anchorage.

According to court documents, in 2022, Nigel Ivory, 29, of Anchorage, was released from prison after serving a federal sentence and began selling drugs in and around the Anchorage area.

During the investigation, officials conducted three controlled purchases of drugs from Ivory between October 2022 and March 2023. During the first controlled purchase in October 2022, Ivory sold over 111 grams of methamphetamine and 98 fentanyl pills for $3,800. In January 2023, Ivory sold 282 fentanyl pills for $1,950. In March 2023, Ivory sold over 276 grams of methamphetamine and 487 fentanyl pills for $5,000.

In February 2023, officials seized over $55,000 in cash that Ivory attempted to transport from Anchorage to Fort Wayne, Indiana, on a commercial flight. Ivory attempted to smuggle the cash by hiding it inside three tennis shoes in a checked bag. The cash had trace amounts of methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl on it. Later that month, officials also seized over 180 fentanyl pills from a co-conspirator during a traffic stop. Investigators uncovered text messages from Ivory directing the co-conspirator to hide the fentanyl pills from police.

On June 22, 2023, officials simultaneously executed search warrants for two residences associated with Ivory, one of which was Ivory’s primary address. At 6:30 a.m., agents announced their presence outside Ivory’s residence. Ivory and a co-defendant did not come outside and surrender until 7:00 a.m. Upon searching the residence, agents recovered over $18,000 in U.S. currency, a money counter, drug packaging material, over 160 fentanyl pills, some of which were partially dissolved and scattered in a toilet bowl, two firearms and ammunition.

In April and May 2023, law enforcement seized three additional packages, each containing more than a kilogram of fentanyl pills, from co-conspirators in the case, in which Ivory was involved in trafficking. The following co-conspirators were also charged in this case:

• Brandon Beltz, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl on Aug. 13, 2024, and is awaiting sentencing.
• Jack Breitenstein died of an apparent fentanyl overdose after spending nine months on pretrial release and the charges against him were dismissed on April 11, 2024. 
• Wilanda Jackson, 23, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and is awaiting trial.
• Don’Tia Nikolai, 21, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and is awaiting trial. 

As a result of the investigation, the defendant is accountable for 5.3 kilograms of fentanyl and over 380 grams of methamphetamine. Ivory pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl in April 2024.

“Fatal drug overdoses rose over 44% this past year, with the majority involving fentanyl, posing a grave threat to Alaskans,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “Keeping fentanyl out of our communities is a top priority, and we urge the public to report any drug trafficking activities to law enforcement. We will continue to work closely with law enforcement to investigate and prosecute those who conspire to traffic dangerous drugs in our state.”

“Mr. Ivory callously trafficked massive quantities of deadly fentanyl pills into and throughout Alaska, poisoning our communities and destroying lives in the process,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Zachary Pomerantz of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “This investigation, worked alongside our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, represents one of highest fentanyl seizures known in Alaska, underscoring the FBI’s commitment to disrupting and dismantling drug trafficking organizations that threaten the safety of our communities.”

“Your Alaska State Troopers will continue to work with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to hold anyone that traffics dangerous drugs such as fentanyl accountable for their actions,” stated Alaska State Troopers Colonel Maurice Hughes. “I hope that this significant prison sentence serves as a deterrent to those that are peddling drugs in our state. To those trafficking dangerous drugs in Alaska, know that law enforcement will catch up to you, arrest you, and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”

The FBI Anchorage Field Office, Alaska State Troopers, Anchorage Police Department, IRS Criminal Investigation and U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Schroeder prosecuted the case.

UPDATE: This release has been updated to include the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

###

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – A California drug supplier was sentenced today to life in prison for his connection to the fatal fentanyl overdose of a Fairbanks man in October 2020.

Junior Gafatasi Tulali, 48, was convicted by a federal jury of distributing fentanyl resulting in death with an enhanced statutory penalty on April 19, 2024. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, around Oct. 13, 2020, Tulali agreed to sell 500 Oxycodone M30 pills to a Florida resident who agreed to distribute the pills in Fairbanks, where they could be sold for a higher price than Outside. The pills were shipped in a parcel from California and arrived in Fairbanks on Oct. 17. Inside the parcel were at least 480 counterfeit Oxycodone M30 pills containing a mixture of acetaminophen and an unknown amount of fentanyl.

The individual who retrieved the shipment distributed the counterfeit pills to several other dealers in the area. On Oct. 26, the victim purchased two pills from the shipment. Sometime between the evening of Oct. 26 and Oct. 28, the victim used the pills he obtained and was found dead in his home on Oct. 28. Medical examiners determined cause of death was acute toxic effects of fentanyl, which was contained in the pills that originated from Tulali.

Evidence presented at trial connected two additional non-fatal fentanyl overdoses to Tulali’s shipment of counterfeit pills. Both of the dealers in Fairbanks who were involved in selling the fentanyl pills to the victim were convicted for their role in the offence in 2022.

“In 2023, Alaska had the highest overdose death rate in the nation. Fentanyl poisoning is devastating our state, largely due to drug suppliers like Mr. Tulali, who gamble with human lives every time they sell a counterfeit pill,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “Thanks to the outstanding investigative and prosecutorial work done in this case, we traced the pills that tragically killed the victim back to the source and held three people accountable for the irreparable damage they caused. My office is committed to collaborating with law enforcement at all levels to keep fentanyl out of our communities and prosecute those who jeopardize that mission.” 

“Fentanyl traffickers like Mr. Tulali are willing to risk the lives of their customers in order to make money peddling drugs,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “The sentence today shows that these actions have grave consequences, a lesson Mr. Tulali will spend many years learning.”

“This case is a great example of how far our officers are ready to go to make sure we provide justice for victims in our community. We take our job of protecting  Fairbanks seriously and will continue to hold criminals responsible when they threaten the safety of our residents,” said Fairbanks Police Chief Ron Dupee.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Fairbanks Police Department, North Pole Police Department and Alaska State Troopers, with assistance from the FBI Anchorage Field Office, investigated the case as part of the Fairbanks Area Narcotics Team (FANT) High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys and Carly Vosacek and Alana Weber prosecuted the case.

###

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker announced that a federal grand jury in Alaska returned five unrelated child exploitation indictments in September, emphasizing Alaska law enforcement efforts to investigate and prosecute cases to keep children safe.

“Those who target children for sexual gratification are an urgent threat to our communities,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “My office, alongside our dedicated federal, state and local law enforcement partners, maintains our steadfast commitment to identifying, investigating, and prosecuting anyone who tries to harm our children—especially in this digital age, where predators can reach victims from anywhere in the world.”

“These arrests demonstrate the FBI's continued prioritization of combatting child exploitation crimes in Alaska – no matter where these violations occur or who commits them,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. "Together with our law enforcement partners and the FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, we will identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who put our most vulnerable at risk."

"We, whether it is as a federal law enforcement agency such as HSI or as a community as a whole, have a duty to protect the most vulnerable among us, our children," said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. "Victims of any type of child exploitation crime are survivors of unimaginable trauma. When we successfully stop child predators, we help victims attain safety and a chance to reclaim their lives.”

“The U.S. Secret Service stands firmly with our law enforcement partners to investigate crimes that exploit and target children,” said Glen Peterson, U.S. Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Seattle Field Office. “We continue to use our tools, resources and expertise to identify and arrest individuals that victimize children.”

U.S. v. Feltovic

According to court documents, on Aug. 22, 2024, William Alexander Feltovic, 36, an Anchorage U.S. Postal employee, allegedly attempted to coerce an individual who had not attained the age of 18 years to engage in sexual activity. Feltovic was arrested on Sept. 23 and is charged with one count attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Schroeder is prosecuting the case.

U.S. v. Hadley

According to court documents, in June 2023, Jesse Hadley, 31, of Kotzebue used a minor in Bethel to produce and possess visuals of child pornography. Hadley was arrested on Sept. 30 and is charged with one count sexual exploitation of a child—production of child pornography and one count sexual exploitation of a child—possession of child pornography. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison.

The FBI Anchorage Field Office and the Bethel Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Brickey is prosecuting the case.

U.S. v. Madros

According to court documents, on Aug. 27, 2024, George Floyd Madros III, 43, of Anchorage, contacted an individual he thought was a 13-year-old female on a social media platform. Madros and the individual began communicating through a private chat via the platform and text messages. Madros then allegedly asked the individual for sexually explicit content, asked to meet in person, and talked about potential sexual interactions if they met in person. Madros was arrested on Aug. 28 on related charges filed in a criminal complaint. The indictment charges Madros with one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison.

The FBI Anchorage Field Office is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ainsley McNerney is prosecuting the case.

U.S. v. Rose

According to court documents, on Aug. 27, 2024, Robert Nicholas Roy Rose, 44, of Anchorage, contacted an individual he thought was a 13-year-old girl on a social media platform. Throughout the course of the chat, Rose allegedly had sexually explicit conversations with the individual, including explanations of actions he wanted to do or perform with the 13-year-old, and organized a time to meet in person.

In 2006, Rose was convicted of sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree in the Superior Court for the State of Alaska. As part of the conviction, he was required to register as a sex offender in Alaska. Rose was arrested on Aug. 30 on related charges filed in a criminal complaint. The indictment charges Rose with one count of attempted exploitation of a child – production of child pornography, one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, and one count offense by a registered sex offender. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison for the one charge of attempted production of child pornography, followed by an additional mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison that runs consecutively for the count of offense by a registered sex offender.

The FBI Anchorage Field Office is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ainsley McNerney is prosecuting the case.

U.S. v. Steadman

According to court documents, William Steadman, 34, of Juneau, allegedly produced child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) depicting a minor known to him. Additionally, court documents indicate that he allegedly spent time with other children in his community. Steadman was arrested on Sept. 6 on related charges filed in a criminal complaint. The indictment charges Steadman with sexual exploitation of a child, also known as production of child pornography. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison. 

The U.S. Secret Service is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mac Caille Petursson, Jack Schmidt, William Reed and Trial Attorney McKenzie Hightower of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) 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.

If convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

###

An Alaska man was arrested yesterday in Anchorage for allegedly threatening to injure and kill six U.S. Supreme Court Justices and some of their family members.

According to court documents, between March 10, 2023, and July 16, Panos Anastasiou, 76, sent over 465 messages to the Supreme Court through a public website the court maintained.

“We allege that the defendant made repeated, heinous threats to murder and torture Supreme Court Justices and their families to retaliate against them for decisions he disagreed with,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Our justice system depends on the ability of judges to make their decisions based on the law, and not on fear. Our democracy depends on the ability of public officials to do their jobs without fearing for their lives or the safety of their families.” 

Beginning on Jan. 4, Anastasiou’s messages allegedly escalated to messages intending to threaten harm toward the victims. The messages contained violent, racist, and homophobic rhetoric coupled with threats of assassination by torture, hanging, and firearms.

Anastasiou is charged by indictment with nine counts of making threats against a federal judge and 13 counts of making threats in interstate commerce. The defendant made his initial court appearance yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kyle F. Reardon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska.

If convicted, Anastasiou faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count of making threats against a federal judge and a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count of making threats in interstate commerce. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Attorney General Garland and U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska made the announcement.

The Supreme Court of the United States Police, Protective Intelligence Unit is investigating the case, with significant support from the U.S. Marshals Service and FBI Anchorage Field Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Taylor for the District of Alaska is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment today charging an Anchorage man with threatening to injure and kill six U.S. Supreme Court Justices and some of their family members.

According to court documents, Panos Anastasiou, 76, was arrested today. The indictment alleges that between March 10, 2023, and July 16, 2024, Anastasiou sent over 465 messages to the Supreme Court through a public website the court maintained.

Beginning on Jan. 4, 2024, Anastasiou’s messages allegedly escalated to messages intending to threaten harm toward the victims. The messages contained violent, racist and homophobic rhetoric coupled with threats of assassination by torture, hanging and firearms.

Anastasiou is charged with nine counts of making threats against a federal judge and 13 counts of making threats in interstate commerce. The defendant made his initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kyle F. Reardon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison for each count of making threats against a federal judge and up to five years in prison for each count of making threats in interstate commerce. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement.

The Supreme Court of the United States Police, Protective Intelligence Unit, with significant support from the U.S. Marshals Service and the FBI Anchorage Field Office, is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Taylor 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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JUNEAU, Alaska – A Juneau man made his initial appearance yesterday on a criminal charge related to his alleged production of child pornography.

According to court documents, William Steadman, 34, was arrested on Sept. 6 after he allegedly produced child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) depicting a minor known to him. Additionally, court documents indicate that he allegedly spent time with other children in his community.

Steadman is charged with sexual exploitation of a child, also known as production of child pornography. The defendant made his initial court appearance on Sept. 12 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew M. Scoble of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement.

The U.S. Secret Service is investigating the case. If anyone has information concerning Steadman’s alleged actions or may have encountered someone in person or online using the name William Steadman, please contact mostwanted@usss.dhs.gov.  

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mac Caille Petursson, Jack Schmidt, William Reed and Trial Attorney McKenzie Hightower of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) 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.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

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ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging a Wasilla man with carjacking and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence in January 2023.

According to federal and state court documents, the victim in this case purchased a car that had once belonged to Peter Henry Boyer, 51, from a private seller. Boyer believed that the car had been stolen from him and was able to identify the victim as the new owner. After threatening the victim’s parents via social media, he found her in the car about to leave a residence in Wasilla on January 3, 2024. Boyer allegedly forced the victim out of the car at gunpoint, shot her in the leg and drove away in the vehicle.

Boyer is charged with one count of carjacking and one count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The defendant made his initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew M. Scoble of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 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.

U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Seattle Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais and Alaska State Trooper Colonel Maurice Hughes made the announcement.

The ATF Anchorage Field Office and the Alaska State Troopers are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney James Klugman 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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ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Seward man was arrested in Seward Wednesday after a federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging him with stealing someone’s identity to issue a threat to “bomb and shoot” Alaska’s governor.

According to court documents, on April 12, 2024, Matthew Edward Stanley, 22, used an account with a virtual private network (VPN) service to access the State of Alaska website and send a message to the governor. Stanley allegedly used a different individual’s personal information when addressing the letter, falsely representing that that individual was the one who had sent the threats.

The indictment states the message requested pay rates be raised for “me and my son. Or else everyone at [Victim Labor Union] and my son will take a stand here at seward.” The message goes on to threaten to “bomb and shoot you with my son.”

Stanley is charged with one count of issuing a threat involving explosives, one count of false information and hoaxes and one count of aggravated identity theft. The defendant is scheduled for his initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew M. Scoble of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces a mandatory sentence of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft, in addition to up to 10 years in prison for his other alleged crimes. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska, Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Pacific Northwest operations and Alaska State Trooper Colonel Maurice Hughes made the announcement.

HSI and the Alaska State Troopers are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney James Klugman 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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ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The leader of an extensive transnational drug trafficking organization was sentenced to 28 years in prison on Wednesday for running a conspiracy that trafficked vast amounts of dangerous drugs to Alaska.

According to court documents, Miguel Baez Guevara, a.k.a. “Javi,” 41, a U.S. citizen who was living in Mexico, was the leader of a transnational criminal drug trafficking organization. In October 2014 Guevara was indicted by the State of Arizona for drug trafficking, money laundering and weapons offenses. Guevara fled to Mexico where he headed an enterprise that trafficked large quantities of heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine into the U.S., specifically targeting Alaska, from Mexico. Guevara claimed membership in, and association with, the Sinaloa Cartel.

Guevara’s organization recruited drug couriers who lived in Alaska by using fake personas on social media and encrypted messaging applications. The couriers were promised money or drugs in exchange for traveling to Mexico to collect narcotics for transport back to Alaska. Couriers would travel in small groups led by a team leader and would typically smuggle around 250 grams of drugs on each trip. Guevara gave them instructions on how to smuggle the drugs back to Alaska, where they were met by a member of Guevara’s organization who paid them and collected the drugs for local distribution.

Guevara used violence, threats of violence, and his affiliation with the Sinaloa Cartel to intimidate and maintain total control of his organization. He required drug couriers to submit photos of their driver’s license and maintained records of each worker in his organization. He threatened to have houses burned down in Alaska and on one occasion had a U.S. citizen from Alaska shot in the knee over a drug dispute when they traveled to Mexico. He later bragged he was responsible for the shooting, showed photos and ultimately warned others what could happen if they stole drugs or money from him.

Guevara conducted all these operations from Mexico. The defendant was expelled from Mexico to the U.S. in September 2021 after a federal grand jury in Alaska charged him on a 17 count indictment and he was subsequently arrested by Mexican authorities. Between 2016 and 2022, at least 30 other couriers and dealers working for the defendant were federally prosecuted for participating in Guevara’s drug trafficking organization.

In total, law enforcement seized 7.1 kilograms of meth, nearly 10 kilograms of heroin and 900 grams of cocaine destined for Alaska linked to Guevara’s enterprise. His enterprise grossed millions of dollars in drug sales during the course of the conspiracy. Those proceeds were smuggled to Mexico.

The defendant pleaded guilty to one count of continuing criminal enterprise and one count of drug conspiracy on Jan. 17, 2024, in front of U.S. District Court Chief Magistrate Judge Matthew M. Scoble.

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.

Three other defendants in this case have already been sentenced:

• Joel Rascone, 30, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute heroin and was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment.
• Serena Joseph, 41, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and money laundering and was sentenced to 63 months’ imprisonment.
• Washahiotha Zaragoza, 46, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment.

Four additional co-defendants are believed to be at large in Mexico.

“I want to thank the FBI, DEA, the Coast Guard Investigative Service and all other supporting law enforcement agencies who helped bring justice in this case,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “Keeping our communities safe from violent drug traffickers is a priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. To those looking to greedily profit by trafficking dangerous drugs to Alaska—our office, alongside our law enforcement partners, will use the full force of our resources to investigate and prosecute you to the furthest extent of the law.”

“Mr. Guevara is responsible for trafficking substantial amounts of dangerous drugs into Alaska from Mexico, while preying and profiting on the addictions of others,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “The FBI, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to identify, disrupt, and dismantle transnational criminal organizations that threaten the safety and security of our communities in Alaska.”

“DEA is committed to protecting Alaskans from violent drug traffickers who prey on our communities,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “Mr. Guevara ran a drug trafficking organization that used violence to spread the misery of drugs throughout Alaska for his own enrichment. I am proud of DEA’s role, alongside our partners in the FBI, the Coast Guard Investigative Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in stopping him.”  

“The Coast Guard Investigative Service is committed to safeguarding the lives of those who live and work in maritime communities.  We thank our law enforcement partners for their steadfast efforts in removing this threat to the lives of our Alaskan neighbors,” said Special Agent in Charge Paul Shultz of the Coast Guard Investigative Service Northwest Field Office.

The FBI Anchorage Field Office, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) and the Drug Enforcement Administration Seattle Field Office led the investigation, with support from the Anchorage Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations offices in Anchorage, Alaska, and Sells and Nogales, Arizona, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, Alaska State Troopers, Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport Police and Alaska National Guard.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ainsley McNerney, Chris Schroeder and William Taylor are prosecuting the case, with assistance from former Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison O’Leary. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, and law enforcement agencies in the state of Arizona provided additional support on the case.

This investigation and prosecution are part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”), which 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.

UPDATE: This release has been updated to include Homeland Security Investigations offices in the list of investigating agencies. 

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment last week charging a Dillingham man with federal crimes associated with a scheme to steal funds from the Curyung Tribal Council while he served as an accountant/ IT specialist.

According to court documents, from October 2023 to February 2024, William Corbett, 35, stole over $94,000 from the Tribal Council while employed as an accountant/ IT specialist. Corbett was responsible for overseeing the Tribe’s finances and had access to and control over the Tribal Council’s accounting software data, financial account, payroll information, credit cards and checkbooks.

Checks issued by the Curyung Tribal Counsel were not valid unless signed by at least two authorized signors. Corbett was not an authorized signor. The indictment alleges Corbett unlawfully issued checks from the Tribal Council’s account by forging the signatures of authorized signors. The checks were issued as payable to himself and businesses under his control. He also allegedly fabricated invoices and payroll documents by using personal information of two people, causing direct deposits to be made from the Tribal Council’s accounts to accounts controlled by Corbett.

Corbett is charged with one count of embezzlement and theft from an Indian Tribal organization, five counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. The defendant is scheduled for his initial court appearance on September 3, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kyle F. Reardon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces a mandatory sentence of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft, in addition to up to 20 years in prison and $750,000 in fines for his other alleged crimes. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement.

The Department of Interior, Office of Inspector General and the Dillingham Police Department are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Brickey 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.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage man was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in prison for attempting to entice a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity.

According to court documents, Peter Joseph Hickel Jr., 34, used social media to communicate with and attempt to meet an individual that he believed to be a 12-year-old girl for the purpose of sexual contact. Hickel asked the individual to chat with him on Kik, an encrypted chat platform, and within minutes began asking to meet up with the purported minor.

Hickel was arrested when he arrived at a meeting he arranged with the purported minor. He pled guilty in May 2024 to one count of Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor. He was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, 15 years of supervised release, and a $5,000 special assessment under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act. In imposing the 10-year sentence, the court emphasized that society should protect, rather than exploit, vulnerable minors on the internet.

“Mr. Hickel disregarded the norms and laws of our society by attempting to sexually exploit a child on the internet,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska. “Our office will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to vigorously investigate and prosecute online child sexual exploitation and to apprehend online predators before they can do further harm.”

“The defendant’s abhorrent and brazen actions sought to exploit and victimize Alaskan children, all for his own gratification,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “With a task force approach, the FBI and APD will continue to work aggressively to protect our community’s children from individuals like Peter Hickel.”

The FBI and Anchorage Police Department investigated this case as part of the FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Ivers 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.

If you are a victim of child abuse or suspect someone you know is a victim, you can report to APD at ReportChildAbusetoAPD@anchorageak.gov or 3-1-1/(907) 786-8900, the state OCS at reportchildabuse@alaska.gov or 1(800) 478-4444, or the FBI at tips.fbi.gov.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment on Thursday charging an Army soldier with child pornography offenses.

The defendant, Seth Herrera, 34, who is stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, was arrested on August 23, 2024.

According to court documents, Herrera transported, received and possessed files depicting child sexual abuse. Herrera also allegedly used artificial intelligence (AI) to generate child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) depicting minors known to him.

Court documents further allege that law enforcement uncovered tens of thousands of visual depictions of the violent sexual abuse of children as young as infants on cellphones belonging to the defendant. Herrera also allegedly used encrypted messaging applications and network applications to find, receive and download CSAM.

Herrera is charged with one count of transportation of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. The defendant is currently scheduled for his initial court appearance on August 27, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Reardon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years in prison and up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

“The misuse of cutting-edge generative AI is accelerating the proliferation of dangerous content, including child sexual abuse material – so the Department of Justice is accelerating its enforcement efforts,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “As alleged, the defendant used AI tools to morph images of real kids into horrific child sexual abuse material. Criminals considering the use of AI to perpetuate their crimes should stop and think twice – because the Department of Justice is prosecuting AI-enabled criminal conduct to the fullest extent of the law and will seek increased sentences wherever warranted.”

"Technology may change, but our commitment to protecting children will not,” said S. Lane Tucker, U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska. “We will aggressively pursue those who produce and traffic in child sexual abuse material (CSAM), no matter how that material was created. Put simply, CSAM generated by AI is still CSAM, and those who sexually exploit children, through whatever technological means, will be held accountable by our office in conjunction with our law enforcement partners, for justice and the safety of our children."

“The charges against Herrera, a U.S. military soldier, for trafficking and generating child sexual abuse materials using artificial intelligence represent a profound violation of trust as well as preview of the challenges law enforcement continues to face in this evolving threat to our children” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Pacific Northwest Division. “This appalling misconduct undermines Herrera’s commitment to defending both our nation and its most vulnerable members.”

U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Pacific Northwest operations made the announcement.

The Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Army Criminal Investigation Division are investigating the case. If anyone has information concerning Herrera’s alleged actions or may have encountered someone in person or online using the name Seth Herrera, please contact the HSI tip line at 1-877-447-4847.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac Caille Petursson and Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Wasilla man was charged by criminal complaint last week for allegedly possessing child pornography and possessing a firearm as a felon.

According to court documents, in June 2022, law enforcement obtained and executed a search warrant for a cell phone belonging to Paul Allen Greeno, 44. Upon review of the phone’s contents, agents found images of child sexual abuse, including sexual abuse of toddlers aged one to four years old.

On Aug. 5, 2024, the FBI executed a search warrant on Greeno’s person and residence. During the search, agents found four long gun rifles from a vehicle on his property. Several boxes of ammunition were also found in Greeno’s closet in his bedroom. Greeno was convicted of felony misconduct involving a weapon in December 2023.

The criminal complaint filed against Greeno alleges that he befriended vulnerable youth in Anchorage with promises to supply them with drugs and then sexually exploited them.

Greeno is charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possession of child pornography depicting minors who have not attained 12 years of age. If convicted, Greeno faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Anchorage Field Office is investigating the case. If anyone has information concerning Greeno’s alleged actions or may have encountered someone in person or online using the name Paul Allen Greeno, please contact the FBI Anchorage Field Office at (907) 276-4441 or anonymously at tips.fbi.gov.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alana Weber is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Indiana man was sentenced today to 30 years in prison and life on supervised release for his role in a conspiracy to produce child sexual abuse materials.

According to court documents, Darin Schilmiller, 26, and his co-conspirator Denali Brehmer, 24, conspired to murder Cynthia Hoffman in June 2019 while Schilmiller was residing in Indiana. While they were conspiring to commit Hoffman’s murder, they also conspired to exploit a minor victim to produce sexually explicit images, which Brehmer took and sent to Schilmiller via text message at his direction.  

Schilmiller and Brehmer pleaded guilty to production of child pornography in the U.S. District Court in July 2023. Brehmer was sentenced to serve a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and the rest of her life on supervised release. Both defendants were also sentenced by the State of Alaska to 99 years in prison for their roles in Hoffman’s murder.

In imposing the sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Ralph R. Beistline cited public safety as a paramount consideration, describing the defendant’s actions as predatory, perverted and sophisticated. Judge Beistline stated, "I can't think of anything worse than what that I've seen here,” and that, “the defendant can't be permitted to hurt anyone else."

“This sentence marks the conclusion of a years-long effort to hold the defendants accountable for the tragic consequences of their actions,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “I want to thank the FBI Anchorage Field Office and the Anchorage Police Department for their commitment to protecting Alaska’s children, and to the Alaska Department of Law for diligently prosecuting the homicide. We remain committed to keeping our state safe and pursuing justice.”

“Mr. Schilmiller committed some of the darkest crimes imaginable, causing immeasurable harm to the victims and their families,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day. “This sentencing underscores the unrelenting efforts by the investigative and prosecution teams to ensure that none of his sadistic crimes went unpunished. The FBI, the Anchorage Police Department, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prioritize holding dangerous offenders accountable and protecting our most vulnerable.” 

“This heinous crime had a profound life-long effect on the victim’s family and on this community as well,” stated Anchorage Police Chief Sean Case. “It is important that those responsible are held accountable for their actions.  Our department is grateful for the assistance we received from the local FBI Office in bringing this case to its conclusion.”

The FBI Anchorage Field Office and Anchorage Police Department investigated the case as part of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

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Note: View the release in Yup'ik here. 

The Justice Department announced today that it will monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in certain jurisdictions in the State of Alaska for the Aug. 20 primary election. The department will assign federal observers to monitor in Bethel Census Area, Dillingham Census Area, Kusilvak Census Area, Nome Census Area and North Slope Borough, Alaska. The federal observers, permitted by court order, will monitor for compliance with the language requirements of Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act, including the provision of election assistance in Yup’ik dialects.

The Justice Department enforces the federal voting rights laws that protect the rights of all citizens to access the ballot. The department regularly deploys its staff to monitor for compliance with federal civil rights laws in elections in communities all across the country. In addition, the division also deploys federal observers from the Office of Personnel Management, where authorized by federal court order. 

The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section, working with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, enforces the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Civil Rights Acts and the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.

More information about voting and elections is available on the Justice Department’s website at www.justice.gov/voting. Learn more about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws at www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section. Complaints about possible violations of federal voting rights laws can be submitted through the Civil Rights Division’s website at civilrights.justice.gov or by telephone at 1-800-253-3931. 

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging two men with illegally killing a brown bear on a national wildlife refuge in Alaska, violating the Lacey Act.

According to court documents, between May 9 to May 12, 2022, Richard McAtee, 46, and Arlon Franz, 51, both of Montana, conspired together to possess and transport a brown bear that they illegally killed in the Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge. McAtee was arrested Wednesday night in Montana.

The indictment alleges that one of the men was a nonresident hunting without a contract with a master guide, and that the bear was shot and killed before the legal season to hunt brown bear had opened and the same day the hunter had been airborne, in violation of state and federal laws. It also alleges the defendants salvaged the hide of the illegally taken brown bear in the field and transported it from the Alaska Peninsula to a local hunting lodge, and from there to Port Moller and then to Anchorage.

The National Wildlife Refuge System consists of federal land set aside by Congress as, “a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management, and where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of the present and future generations of Americans.”

The defendants are charged with one count conspiracy in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371 and two counts of violating the Lacey Act, 16 U.S.C. §§ 3372(a)(1) and 3373(d)(1)(B). McAtee made his initial court appearance yesterday before the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana. If convicted, they each face up to five years in prison and a $100,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska, Senior Federal Wildlife Officer Joshua Macri of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Region, and Alaska Wildlife Trooper Colonel Bryan Barlow made the announcement.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Alaska Wildlife Troopers, with assistance from the U.S. Forest Service, are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Klugman and William Taylor 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, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment last week charging an Anchorage man with possessing controlled substances with intent to distribute and possessing a “ghost gun” as a felon.

According to court documents, on June 9, 2024, James McKinley, 37, was found passed out behind the wheel of a running vehicle in a handicapped parking space in Anchorage. Officers from the Anchorage Police Department contacted McKinley and he attempted to flee by ramming the police vehicle out of the way. When McKinley was unable to escape via his vehicle, he allegedly attempted to flee on foot but was taken into custody on scene.

Court documents further allege that officers searched the defendant and his vehicle and found fentanyl powder and pills, methamphetamine, $35,000 in cash and a loaded pistol with no serial number that had been modified to be capable of fully automatic fire. These firearms, which contain no serial numbers or other means of tracing their origins, are referred to as “ghost guns.” At the time of the offense, McKinley had three prior convictions for misconduct involving a controlled substance in the third degree in violation of Alaska law.

McKinley is charged with one count of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, one count of possession of a machinegun during a drug trafficking crime and one count of being an armed career criminal in possession of firearms and ammunition. The defendant will make his initial court appearance on July 30. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 45 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Anchorage Field Office is investigating this case as part of the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, with significant assistance from the Anchorage Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Klugman and Mac Caille Petursson 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, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging a Palmer man with illegally operating an aircraft.

According to court documents, William Marsan, 56, is allegedly the owner and pilot of a private aircraft in Alaska. In June 2023, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) received a report that Marsan did not radio his intention to take off from an airport in Palmer and operated the aircraft against the flow of landing traffic, resulting in a near mid-air collision with another aircraft attempting to land.

Law enforcement investigated the June 2023 incident and discovered that Marsan was allegedly operating an aircraft without a valid license or valid registration. They also discovered he had allegedly obscured the identification number on the side of the aircraft with stickers.

As a result of the investigation, the FAA issued an Emergency Order of Revocation of the defendant’s Airline Transport Pilot Certificate, which required the immediate surrender of his pilot license or the filing of an appeal of the decision within 10 days. Marsan allegedly failed to file an appeal or surrender his license but has continued to operate his aircraft until the date of this indictment.

Marsan is charged with one count of operating an aircraft without an airman certificate in violation of 49 U.S.C. §46306(b)(7), one count of operating an unregistered aircraft in violation of 49 U.S.C. §46306(b)(6)(A) and one count of operating an aircraft displaying a false registration mark in violation of 49 U.S.C. §46306(b)(3). The defendant was arrested on July 18 and will make his initial court appearance on July 23 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott A. Oravec of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska, Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office and Regional Administrator Michael O’Hare of the FAA, Alaska Region made the announcement.

The FBI Anchorage Field Office and the FAA, Alaska Region are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Bradley 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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ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment last week charging an Anchorage doctor and her husband with health care fraud and tax evasion.

According to court documents, from 2010 to 2023, Claribel Tan, 60, a practicing rheumatologist, and her husband, Daniel Tan, 69, operated Claribel K. Tan MD LLC (CKTMD), a medical clinic in Anchorage. The indictment alleges that the couple defrauded health care benefit programs by causing the submission of false claims that misrepresented the type and dosage of medication, and the scope of medical services provided to patients. Further, the indictment alleges that both defendants deceived patients regarding the necessity of receiving medication at the clinic and created false medical records. The indictment also alleges that Claribel Tan deceived patients regarding what substances she injected into their bodies. In total, the Tans received over $10 million in fraudulently obtained funds. In a separate civil action, the Justice Department seized roughly $8.5 million of those funds from the defendant’s accounts.

The indictment also alleges that the Tans evaded income taxes for 2014, 2015 and 2017 by providing false information to their return preparer that overstated CKTMD’s expenses and filing false tax returns that understated their income. The indictment further alleges that Daniel Tan evaded income taxes for 2016 when he provided the Tans’ accountant with false information for that return. The accountant allegedly ceased preparing tax returns for them, and the Tans did not file tax returns for 2016.

The indictment further alleges that the Tans did not file tax returns for 2018 through 2021, despite being required to by law.

The defendants are each charged with one count of health care fraud and four counts of willful failure to file a tax return. Daniel Tan is charged with four counts and Claribel Tan is charged with three counts of attempting to evade and defeat tax. The defendants will make their initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott A. Oravec of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska.

If convicted, they face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for health care fraud, five years for each count of tax evasion and one year for each count of failing to file a tax return. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska made the announcement.

The IRS Criminal Investigation, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, FBI, Defense Contract Audit Agency, Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General Criminal Investigations Division, Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration, Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations and State of Alaska Division of Insurance Investigation Unit are investigating the case.

Trial Attorney Dominick Giovanniello of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Morgan Walker and Seth Beausang for the District of Alaska 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, Alaska – A Canadian man was arrested in Los Angeles on July 8 after a federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging him with stealing over $420,000 of his mother’s Social Security benefits in a nearly 30-year complex fraud scheme.

According to court documents, beginning in roughly 1995, Ellis Kingsep, aka Ellis King, 77, allegedly created private postal mailbox accounts to hide the fact that he was a sending and receiving his mother’s mail. The defendant allegedly changed the mailing addresses for his mother every few years to a new address in California, and eventually Vancouver, British Columbia, and Alaska.

In 2013, the Social Security Administration received a change of address notice signed by Kingsep’s mother, stating that she was moving to Alaska and requested her address be changed to one in Fairbanks. The address in Fairbanks was for a mail forwarding service that, allegedly per instructions from the defendant, would receive the mail in his mother’s name, repackage it in his name and ship it to two different private mailbox services located in Vancouver. Those services, again allegedly per instructions from the defendant, would repackage and forward the mail to private mailbox services in Los Angeles, where Kingsep would regularly collect his mail. The indictment alleges the mother’s name or information were not used for any of the private mailbox registrations. All registrations were done with Kingsep’s information, and they were all in his name.

Beginning in 1996, the Social Security Administration made direct deposits of Social Security retirement benefits for Kingsep’s mother into a different bank account than previously used. The new account was held in the names of the defendant and his mother. The Social Security Administration continued the direct deposits until 2023. Bank security video shows the defendant regularly withdrawing cash from the account in Los Angeles.

The indictment alleges that the defendant’s mother would be 102 at the time of indictment, and that there has been no record of her since 1993.

Kingsep is charged with five counts of mail fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1341, one count of aggravated identity theft in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1028A and one count of social security fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. §408(a)(3). The defendant made his initial court appearance on July 11 before the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California and is awaiting transport to Alaska by the U.S. Marshal’s Service. If convicted, he faces a mandatory sentence of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft, in addition to up to 20 years in prison for his other alleged crimes. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska and Special Agent-in-Charge Christian Assaad, of the Denver Seattle Field Division, Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General made the announcement.

The Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Bradley 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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ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Alaska man was sentenced yesterday to two and half years in prison for embezzling more than $1 million from the City of Houston, Alaska, and from a Wasilla-based equipment company, and then evading taxes on the embezzled profits.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2015 through 2018, Jess Adams, 67, was the Treasurer for the City of Houston, Alaska, where he was entrusted with bookkeeping responsibilities and had administrative access to the city’s accounting records and software. Adams used this access to direct electronic transfers from the city’s bank account to a personal account in his name, which he maintained to hide the embezzled funds. Adams created fictitious entries in the city’s accounting records to disguise these payments as legitimate business expenses.

In October 2018, the City of Houston placed Adams on administrative leave, and he resigned his position in November 2018. A year later, Adams was employed as a bookkeeper by an equipment company, where he exercised control over the company’s accounting records and software. Using this access, Adams directed electronic transfers from the company’s bank account to other personal accounts that Adams opened in his name to hide the embezzled money. To conceal his activity, Adams used fictitious entries in the company’s accounting software to make it appear as though these funds were transferred for the payment of legitimate business expenses.

Adams then laundered the money he embezzled from the equipment company by making several wire transfers from his personal bank account to other accounts, each at a value greater than $10,000.

To further conceal his embezzlement and evade his taxes, Adams – a former seasonal tax return preparer for a national tax advisory company – filed false individual income tax returns for tax years 2016 through 2021. These returns did not disclose the additional income he embezzled.

In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason for the District of Alaska ordered Adams to serve three years’ supervised release and to pay over $1.5 million in restitution to the City of Huston, a private company and the IRS.

“Mr. Adams abused his positions of trust to greedily deceive and steal from victims and the U.S. government,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “His actions caused serious, life-long harm for some of the victims. My office is fully committed to working with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who prey on innocent victims and seek justice for anyone who is impacted by their deplorable actions.”

“Stealing from both the government and from members of the community, Mr. Adams chose to cause great harm wherever he worked,” said Special Agent in Charge Adam Jobes, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Seattle Field Office. “Because financial crimes cause real damage to real people, there are consequences for committing these crimes, as Mr. Adams is learning today. IRS-CI is committed to putting a stop to criminals who prey on the well-being of our communities.”

IRS CI Seattle Field Office investigated the case, with substantial assistance from the Alaska State Troopers.

Trial Attorney Boris Bourget of the Tax Division, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Bradley and former Assistant U.S. Attorney George Tran for the District of Alaska prosecuted the case.

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JUNEAU, Alaska – The final two members of a Washington state family were sentenced yesterday for selling over $1 million of Philippine produced products as authentic Alaska Native produced artwork, violating the Indian Arts and Crafts Act.

According to court documents, Glenda Tiglao Rodrigo, 46, was sentenced to up to six months’ home confinement and 240 hours of community service, and Christian Ryan Tiglao Rodrigo, 24, was sentenced to up to three months’ home confinement and 200 hours of community service. Both defendants are required to serve five years’ probation and write a letter of apology to be published in the Ketchikan Daily Newspaper. All three defendants are required to jointly pay over $54,000 in restitution.

Cristobal Rodrigo, 59, Glenda’s husband and Christian’s father, was a co-conspirator in the case and was sentenced to two years in prison in August 2023 for his role in the scheme. Cristobal Rodrigos’ sentence was reduced to 18 months in June 2024, but remains the longest sentence a defendant has received for any Indian Arts and Crafts Act violation in the U.S., according to the Indian Arts and Crafts Board.

Court documents explain that from April 2016 to December 2021, while residing in Washington state, the Rodrigo family owned and operated Alaska Stone Arts, LLC and Rail Creek, LLC in Ketchikan, Alaska. Alaska Stone Arts, LLC primarily sold stone carvings, and Rail Creek, LLC primarily sold wood totem poles. The carvings and totem poles were sourced from Rodrigo Creative Crafts, a company owned by Glenda Rodrigo and located in the Philippines.

The Philippine business was created for the sole purpose of producing carvings featuring Alaska Native designs and motifs using Philippine labor. The carvings were shipped to the U.S. and then to the family’s stores in Ketchikan, where they were later sold as authentic Alaska Native art.

Christian Rodrigo helped with the day-to-day operations and worked as a salesperson at both stores, while Glenda Rodrigo oversaw the business affairs for both stores. The Rodrigo’s also hired Alaska Natives at both Ketchikan stores to represent and sell Philippine produced artwork as their own authentic Alaska Native artwork. The workers told customers they were all related family working in the store and the art was all produced from locally sourced materials and made by Alaska Natives. Court documents outline over 20 separate instances where salespersons misrepresented themselves and the artwork to sell a Philippine produced product as authentic Alaska Native artwork.

Prior to the conspiracy, Cristobal Rodrigo worked in Alaska at different stores and shops producing stone carvings that were sold in the tourist trade for over 20 years. Cristobal Rodrigo taught the styles of Alaska Native stone art and wood totem poles to the Philippine based company.

In 2019 and for part of 2021, the family and their Alaska-based company employees sold over $1 million worth of Philippine made carvings presented as Alaska Native artwork.

“The actions the Rodrigo’s family took to purposefully deceive customers and forge artwork is a cultural affront to Alaska Native artisans who pride themselves on producing these works of art, and negatively affects those who make a living practicing the craft,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “The sentences in this monumental case are a testament to the federal government’s commitment to prosecuting Indian Arts and Crafts Act violations, and our office will continue to work with law enforcement partners to protect Alaska Native cultural heritage and unwitting customers, and hold perpetrators accountable who carry out these crimes.”

“The Indian Arts and Crafts Board administers and enforces the Indian Arts and Crafts Act, a truth-in-marketing law,” said Indian Arts and Crafts Board Director Meridith Stanton. “The Act is intended to rid the Alaska Native and Indian arts and crafts marketplace of fakes and counterfeits, in order to protect the economic livelihoods and cultural heritage of Alaska Native and Indian artists and craftspeople and their Tribes and villages, as well as the buying public. Authentic Alaska Native art and craftwork is an important tool for passing down cultural traditions, traditional knowledge, and artistic skills from one generation to the next.  Fakes and counterfeits, such as those marketed for huge sums of money by the Rodrigos, tear at the very fabric of Alaska Native culture, Native livelihoods, and Native communities. Today’s sentencing should send a strong message to those who prey upon authentic Alaska Native artists and vulnerable consumers that this destructive conduct will not be tolerated, and Act violators will be held accountable.”

“The Rodrigos sold imported products as Alaska Native made in their Ketchikan, Alaska store,” said Edward Grace, Assistant Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement. “This deceptive business practice cheated customers and undermined the economic livelihood of Alaska Native artists. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has a dedicated team of special agents that work on violations of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act. Today’s sentence was the result of the strong collaboration between our special agents, the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.” 

The Department of Interior – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Office of Law Enforcement, with assistance from the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, U.S. Customs and Border Protections, and U.S. Department of Agriculture, investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt prosecuted the case.

If you suspect potential Indian Arts and Crafts Act violations are being committed, a complaint may be submitted through the Indian Arts and Crafts Board’s online complaint form, www.doi.gov/iacb/should-i-report-potential-violation, by emailing iacb@ios.doi.gov, or by calling 888-278-3253.

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TUCSON, Ariz. – David Quintero-Mascareno, 20, of Glendale, was arrested on Monday, and charged by complaint with Knowingly and Intentionally Possessing with Intent to Distribute 400 Grams or More of a Mixture or Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance. 

The complaint alleges that, on July 1, 2024, Quintero-Mascareno presented himself for inspection at the Port of Entry in Lukeville, driving a gray Dodge Ram towing a trailer loaded with a utility terrain vehicle. Quintero-Mascareno claimed he was returning to the United States from Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico, and gave a negative customs declaration for contraband. A Customs and Border Protection (CBP) canine, trained to detect narcotics, alerted to the utility trailer.

CBP officers found approximately 234 packages, containing blue pills imprinted with “M30,” concealed in the trailer’s floorboards and rails. A representative sample of the pills field-tested positive for the properties of fentanyl. The packages weighed a total of almost 460 kilograms.

A conviction for Possession with Intent to Distribute 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, a fine of $10,000,000, or both, and a maximum term of five years supervised release.

A complaint is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations are conducting the investigation. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:            24-07915MJ
RELEASE NUMBER:    2024-089_Quintero-Mascareno

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal jury convicted an Anchorage man Friday after a five-day trial for cyberstalking a woman over four years.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between 2016 and 2020, Rolando Hernandez-Zemora, 40, stalked the victim using location tracking applications, text messages, and video calls, and other means in order to try and control her life.

In 2020, the harassment extended to some of the victim’s work colleagues and family members and included threats of violence. Hernandez-Zemora’s harassment of the victim continued even after she obtained a protective order. As a result of his threats, the victim’s workplace went into lockdown for multiple days from late April to early May 2020. Hernandez-Zemora was arrested at the end of May 2020 after he evaded the police for two days.

“I want to commend the victim for her bravery in coming forward, and we hope this conviction is the first step in closure and justice for those impacted by this case,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker. “Mr. Hernandez-Zemora is a serious danger to the community, demonstrated by his desire to harm the victim, her colleagues and her family. My office will continue to seek justice against perpetrators who choose to threaten violence.”

“The defendant’s disturbing pattern of conduct involved threats of violence and cyberstalking harassment, which caused substantial fear of harm and emotional distress,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “This type of conduct will not be tolerated. Today’s verdict underscores our commitment to hold accountable those who commit such crimes.”

The FBI Anchorage Field Office and Anchorage Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Ivers and Seth Beausang are prosecuting the case.

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ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Kenai man pleaded guilty yesterday to making interstate threats to kidnap and injure a sitting U.S. Senator.

According to court documents, Arther Graham, 46, sent a web form submission to a U.S. Senator on Sept. 28, 2023, threatening to injure the Senator. Congressional staff members reported the threat to the U.S. Capitol Police and an investigation was launched.

Graham identified himself in the threat. Law enforcement later confirmed the sender was Graham and lived in Kenai. He was taken into custody by special agents from the U.S. Capitol Police and FBI at his home on Oct. 30, 2023.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 1 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

“Threats of violence against public servants are abhorrent and unacceptable, and as this plea makes clear, the Justice Department will not tolerate them,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Our democracy depends on the ability of members of Congress to do their jobs without fearing for their safety. The Justice Department will continue to do everything in our power to protect those who serve the public and hold accountable those who endanger them.”

U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska and Chief J. Thomas Manger of the U.S. Capitol Police made the announcement.

The U.S. Capitol Police and FBI Anchorage Field Office, with assistance from the Kenai Police Department and the Alaska State Troopers, investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Vandergaw is prosecuting the case.

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An Alaska man pleaded guilty yesterday to making interstate threats to kidnap and injure a sitting U.S. Senator.

According to court documents, Arther Graham, 46, of Kenai, sent a web form submission to a U.S. Senator on Sept. 28, 2023, threatening to injure the Senator. Congressional staff members reported the threat to the U.S. Capitol Police and an investigation was launched.

“Threats of violence against public servants are abhorrent and unacceptable, and as this plea makes clear, the Justice Department will not tolerate them,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Our democracy depends on the ability of members of Congress to do their jobs without fearing for their safety. The Justice Department will continue to do everything in our power to protect those who serve the public and to hold accountable those who endanger them.”

Graham identified himself in the threat. Law enforcement later confirmed the sender was Graham and lived in Kenai. He was taken into custody by special agents from the U.S. Capitol Police and FBI at his home on Oct. 30, 2023.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 1, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Attorney General Garland, U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska and Chief J. Thomas Manger of the U.S. Capitol Police made the announcement.

The U.S. Capitol Police and FBI Anchorage Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Kenai Police Department and the Alaska State Troopers.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Vandergaw for the District of Alaska is prosecuting the case.

The Justice Department announced today its findings that Alaska violated Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by failing to provide an accessible ballot for in-person voting, selecting inaccessible polling places for federal, state and local elections and maintaining an inaccessible elections website. The ADA requires that states’ voting services, programs and activities be accessible to individuals with disabilities.  

“For too long, people with disabilities have been denied the fundamental rights and freedoms that citizens of our democracy possess, including the opportunity to fully participate in the voting process,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is fully committed to enforcing the ADA to make sure that individuals with disabilities have an equal opportunity to vote, including by voting privately and independently like everyone else.”

“Voting is a fundamental right for all American citizens and ensuring they have full access to the election process is a hallmark of our democracy,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to collaborate with the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division to work toward accessibility in voting for all Alaskans.”

The department opened its investigation in response to complaints from individuals with disabilities in Alaska alleging accessibility issues. Voters with disabilities reported that they could not vote privately and independently because accessible voting machines were unavailable or did not work, that they encountered inaccessible polling places and that they could not obtain key election information on the state’s election website. Following an investigation, in a public letter of findings issued to Alaska, the department detailed its findings and asked the state to resolve the identified civil rights violations. The findings include the state’s failure to provide functional accessible voting machines, to provide polling places without physical barriers, such as muddy parking lots or steps, that allow voters with disabilities to vote in person and to ensure the accessibility of its website where voters with disabilities can obtain election information, including voter registration forms, candidate statements and voting dates and polling place locations.   

The Alaska investigation is part of the department’s ADA Voting Initiative, which focuses on protecting the voting rights of individuals with disabilities across the country. More information about voting and elections is available on the Justice Department’s website at www.justice.gov/voting. For more information on the Civil Rights Division, please visit www.justice.gov/crt. For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 (TTY 1-833-610-1264) or visit www.ada.gov. If you believe you have been discriminated against based on disability, please submit a report online at www.civilrights.justice.gov.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging an Anchorage man with allegedly making a false bomb threat at a federal building.

According to court documents, on June 11, 2024, James Pearce, 40, falsely stated that he had placed explosive devices at the James Fitzgerald Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse and at six other locations around Anchorage. Pearce allegedly made these statements under circumstances where it may reasonably have been believed that the activity actually took place. He also allegedly made references to the terrorist groups Al-Qaeda and ISIS and the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City.

Pearce was arrested on-site, and the building was evacuated.

Pearce is charged with one count of a bomb hoax at a federal building, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1038(a)(1). The defendant will make his initial court appearance on a later date before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Anchorage Field Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Anchorage Field Office and Homeland Security Investigation, Federal Protective Service are investigating the case. The Anchorage Police Department provided significant law enforcement support the day of the incident.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Will Taylor and Mac Caille Petursson 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, Alaska – An Anchorage man was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for possessing and distributing controlled substances and possessing a firearm illegally.

According to court documents, in November 2020, Mauricio Martinez, 22, was a drug dealer operating in Anchorage selling illicit drugs via a social media platform. Law enforcement became aware that, on at least one occasion, the defendant carried a firearm while selling drugs. Martinez was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2021 for distributing a controlled substance and for carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.

In August 2022, law enforcement located the defendant driving a vehicle and attempted to arrest him, but he tried to flee and discard a firearm in the process. He was arrested and officers found $4,000 in cash on his person and another firearm, roughly 10,000 counterfeit Xanax and Percocet pills, nearly 7,000 fentanyl tablets and cocaine in his vehicle.

In June 2023, while Martinez was in the Anchorage jail awaiting trial, guards searched his cell and found a large knife and meth packaged for sale that he admitted were his.

Martinez pleaded guilty in September 2023.

“Mr. Martinez is a serious danger to the public and has shown a disregard for the law since he was a teenager, and even while he was incarcerated,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “Keeping individuals like Mr. Martinez out of our communities is a priority for our office. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute individuals who pose a risk of public safety due to their actions.”

“Mr. Martinez utilized firearms while dealing deadly drugs, including illicit fentanyl, in our community,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “This sentencing sends a message that illegal drug distribution and violent criminal behavior will not be tolerated.  The FBI will continue to work jointly with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue those who endanger the lives of Alaskans.”

The FBI Anchorage Field Office and Anchorage Police Department investigated the case as part of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Bradley prosecuted the case.

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WASHINGTON – An indictment was returned yesterday in the District of Alaska charging Sergey Nefedov, 40, of Anchorage, Alaska, and Mark Shumovich, 35, of Bellevue, Washington, with allegedly operating a scheme to illegally export nearly half a million dollars’ worth of snowmachines and associated parts from the United States to Russia without the required licenses and approvals, in violation of U.S. export laws. Nefedov and Shumovich were arrested yesterday morning in Alaska and Washington, respectively.

“As alleged in the indictment, the defendants engaged in a scheme to evade export restrictions by smuggling hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of snowmachines and associated parts to Russia,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “This matter is the latest example of our commitment to hold accountable those who violate sanctions laws and our determination to impose costs on the Russian government for its unjustified invasion of Ukraine.”

“Violations of export laws carry significant consequences for perpetrators in the U.S. and abroad,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “Our office will continue to work with the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of Commerce to prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law and ensure U.S. export restrictions are enforced.”

“The charges laid out in the indictment are serious offenses,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate those who subvert export laws to smuggle goods out of the United States.”

“Covertly selling snowmachines to Russia violates our export laws, regardless of whether the sales are direct or laundered through Hong Kong,” said Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod.  “Today’s arrests are just the latest example of our aggressive efforts to enforce the export restrictions imposed on Russia following its brutal full-scale invasion of Ukraine.”

“This seizure of snowmachines and the coordinated investigation led to the disruption and identification of a transnational criminal network attempting to circumvent Russian sanctions,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in the Pacific Northwest.  “Using our unique customs authorities, HSI works with its law enforcement partners, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, to identify, search, and seize merchandise being exported contrary to law, and prosecute those responsible.”

As alleged in the indictment, between at least March 2022 and May 2023, Nefedov and Shumovich conspired with individuals doing business in Russia and Hong Kong to evade the U.S. export restrictions that were imposed on luxury goods to Russia pursuant to Executive Order 14068 following Russia’s full-scale, unlawful invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, by shipping snowmobiles and associated parts to Russia through an intermediary company in Hong Kong.

In furtherance of the conspiracy, a Russian national who owned a company selling snowmachines in Russia (Co-Conspirator 1, or CC-1) allegedly contracted with a Russian national doing business in Hong Kong (Co-Conspirator 2, or CC-2) for shipment of nearly $1 million worth of goods from Hong Kong to Russia. Separately, CC-1 allegedly created invoices for CC-2’s company to purchase snowmachines and other motorsport vehicles from Nefedov’s company, Absolut Auto Sales LLC. As alleged, CC-1 told a freight forwarder that he needed goods to “transit in a third country” from the United States because deliveries of equipment to Russia “have been stopped.”

According to the indictment, Nefedov and Shumovich then received quotes from U.S.-based snowmachine distributors and freight forwarders to purchase and ship snowmachines. As alleged, Nefedov forwarded those quotes to CC-1, who approved of quotes and instructed Nefedov on additional questions to pose to the U.S. distributors and freight forwarders. To fund the purchase of snowmachines, CC-1’s company allegedly wired funds to CC-2’s company in Hong Kong, which wired funds to Nefedov’s company, Absolut Auto Sales LLC. Nefedov used those funds to purchase snowmachines in the United States with the aid of Shumovich. According to the indictment, Nefedov and Shumovich told freight forwarders that the snowmachines would be going to Hong Kong, where they knew that a license was not required for export, thereby causing a freight forwarder to provide false information to U.S. authorities by concealing the end user and destination of the snowmachines.

Authorities seized all snowmachines related to this case. Nefedov and Shumovich are charged with the following offenses, which carry associated maximum penalties as follows: conspiracy to unlawfully export goods from the U.S. and defraud the U.S. (5 years in prison); false electronic export information activities (5 years in prison); smuggling (10 years in prison); unlawful export without a license in violation of the Export Control Reform Act (20 years in prison); and conspiracy to commit international money laundering (20 years in prison). Nefedov is also charged with money laundering and making a false statement in violation of the Export Control Reform Act, which both carry maximum penalties of 20 years in prison. The defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI’s Anchorage Field Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security Office of Export Enforcement are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander for the District of Alaska and Trial Attorney Leslie Esbrook of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.

These cases were coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export controls and economic countermeasures that the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. Announced by the Attorney General on March 2, 2022, and under the leadership of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the task force will continue to leverage all of the department’s tools and authorities to combat efforts to evade or undermine the collective actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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An indictment was returned yesterday in the District of Alaska charging Sergey Nefedov, 40, of Anchorage, Alaska, and Mark Shumovich, 35, of Bellevue, Washington, with allegedly operating a scheme to illegally export nearly half a million dollars’ worth of snowmachines and associated parts from the United States to Russia without the required licenses and approvals, in violation of U.S. export laws. Nefedov and Shumovich were arrested yesterday in Alaska and Washington, respectively.

“As alleged in the indictment, the defendants engaged in a scheme to evade export restrictions by smuggling hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of snowmachines and associated parts to Russia,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “This matter is the latest example of our commitment to hold accountable those who violate sanctions laws and our determination to impose costs on the Russian government for its unjustified invasion of Ukraine.”

“Violations of export laws carry significant consequences for perpetrators in the U.S. and abroad,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “Our office will continue to work with the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of Commerce to prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law and ensure U.S. export restrictions are enforced.”

“Covertly selling snowmobiles to Russia violates our export laws, regardless of whether the sales are direct or laundered through Hong Kong,” said Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod of the Department of Commerce. “Today’s arrests are just the latest example of our aggressive efforts to enforce the export restrictions imposed on Russia following its brutal full-scale invasion of Ukraine.”

“These arrests serve as an example of the FBI’s determination to stop those individuals who allegedly export U.S. goods to foreign adversaries in violation of U.S. law,” said Executive Assistant Director Larissa L. Knapp of the FBI's National Security Branch. “Any attempt to circumvent U.S. laws, sanctions and regulations will not be tolerated, and the FBI will continue to work with our partners to counter any efforts to illegally ship U.S. goods to sanctioned nations.”

“The charges laid out in the indictment are serious offenses,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate those who subvert export laws to smuggle goods out of the United States.”

“This seizure of snowmachines and the coordinated investigation led to the disruption and identification of a transnational criminal network attempting to circumvent Russian sanctions,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)’s operations in the Pacific Northwest. “Using our unique customs authorities, HSI works with its law enforcement partners, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, to identify, search and seize merchandise being exported contrary to law, and prosecute those responsible.”

As alleged in the indictment, between at least March 2022 and May 2023, Nefedov and Shumovich conspired with individuals doing business in Russia and Hong Kong to evade the U.S. export restrictions that were imposed on luxury goods to Russia pursuant to Executive Order 14068 following Russia’s full-scale, unlawful invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, by shipping snowmachines and associated parts to Russia through an intermediary company in Hong Kong.

In furtherance of the conspiracy, a Russian national who owned a company selling snowmachines in Russia (Co-Conspirator 1, or CC-1) allegedly contracted with a Russian national doing business in Hong Kong (Co-Conspirator 2, or CC-2) for shipment of nearly $1 million worth of goods from Hong Kong to Russia. Separately, CC-1 allegedly created invoices for CC-2’s company to purchase snowmachines and other motorsport vehicles from Nefedov’s company, Absolut Auto Sales LLC. As alleged, CC-1 told a freight forwarder that he needed goods to “transit in a third country” from the United States because deliveries of equipment to Russia “have been stopped.”

According to the indictment, Nefedov and Shumovich then received quotes from U.S.-based snowmachine distributors and freight forwarders to purchase and ship snowmachines. As alleged, Nefedov forwarded those quotes to CC-1, who approved of quotes and instructed Nefedov on additional questions to pose to the U.S. distributors and freight forwarders. To fund the purchase of snowmachines, CC-1’s company allegedly wired funds to CC-2’s company in Hong Kong, which wired funds to Nefedov’s company, Absolut Auto Sales LLC. Nefedov used those funds to purchase snowmachines in the United States with the aid of Shumovich. According to the indictment, Nefedov and Shumovich told freight forwarders that the snowmachines would be going to Hong Kong, where they knew that a license was not required for export, thereby causing a freight forwarder to provide false information to U.S. authorities by concealing the end user and destination of the snowmachines.

Authorities seized all snowmachines related to this case. Nefedov and Shumovich are charged the following offenses, which carry associated maximum penalties as follows: conspiracy to unlawfully export goods from the United States and defraud the United States (five years in prison); false electronic export information activities (five years in prison); smuggling (10 years in prison); unlawful export without a license in violation of the Export Control Reform Act (20 years in prison); and conspiracy to commit international money laundering (20 years in prison). Nefedov is also charged with money laundering and making a false statement in violation of the Export Control Reform Act, which both carry maximum penalties of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI, HSI and Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security Office of Export Enforcement are investigating the case.

Trial Attorney Leslie Esbrook of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander for the District of Alaska are prosecuting the case.

This case was coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export controls and economic countermeasures that the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. Announced by the Attorney General on March 2, 2022, and under the leadership of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the task force will continue to leverage all of the department’s tools and authorities to combat efforts to evade or undermine the collective actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

View the indictment here

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging a Chicago man and woman with allegedly running a scheme to defraud a North Pole restaurant of over $128,000.

According to court documents, from July to August 2022, Jacob Centeno, 39, and Amber Davila, 35, allegedly illegally obtained banking and identification information for the restaurant and restaurant owner by gaining access to their email. The defendants used this information and access to misrepresent themselves as the owner and divert proceeds from the owner’s bank account to a different account registered under a false identity that the defendants created and had access to.

In total, roughly $128,246 was diverted to the defendants’ fraudulent bank account between Aug. 4 and Aug. 9, 2022.

As part of the scheme, Centeno and Davila allegedly purchased over $41,000 worth of money orders from the fraudulent bank account over the course of multiple days in Chicago. They then deposited the money orders into their various personal and business accounts in aggregate amounts of less than $10,000. Finally, to further conceal their scheme, they withdrew money from a business account registered in their names and deposited it into their personal accounts.

Centeno and Davila were arrested in Chicago on June 4 and are charged with one count of aggravated identity theft in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1028A(a)(1), one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1349, five counts of wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1343, one count conspiracy to commit money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1956(h), 18 U.S.C. §1956(a)(1)(B)(i), and eight counts of money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1956(a)(1)(B)(i). The defendants will make their initial court appearance on a later date. If convicted, they face a mandatory minimum of two years for aggravated identity theft, which is served consecutive to any other sentence for their alleged crimes. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Anchorage Field Office, FBI Fairbanks Resident Agency, FBI Chicago Field Office and North Pole Police Department are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carly Vosacek and Michael Heyman are prosecuting the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Illinois provided significant legal support in this case.

If you or someone you know might be a victim of fraud or other crime, you can report it to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or through the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov.

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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UPDATE: This release has been updated to no longer state that the indictment came back "today" and correct the year in paragraph three from "2024" to "2022" in the text. 

JUNEAU, Alaska – A Ketchikan man was sentenced today to 13 years and 4 months in prison for distributing child pornography through a group messaging platform.

According to court documents, Walter William Onstad, 46, was an administrator of a messaging group known as “Anything Goes.” The chat was used exclusively to exchange child pornography, with some of the visuals depicting the sexual abuse of pre-pubescent minors.

Court documents say investigators with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a tip in April 2022 that an individual, later identified as Onstad, sent at least 12 images and videos of child pornography to another user through the messaging platform.

An investigation revealed that Onstad solicited images depicting child sexual abuse from those wanting to enter the “Anything Goes” group chat. The defendant would personally verify the images, upload the images to the group chat and grant access to people who provided them.

As the investigation continued, the defendants cell phone was taken by law enforcement and over 300 images and 40 videos of child sexual abuse were in his possession on the phone. The defendant admitted to being responsible for the possession and distribution of over 600 images. Some of the images he possessed and distributed included the sexual abuse of minors as young as infants and toddlers.

“Mr. Onstad contributed to the victimization of children by running a child sexual abuse material distribution chat and was responsible for sharing hundreds of images of innocent children,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “We will continue to work with law enforcement to relentlessly pursue, arrest and prosecute individuals who traffic images of child sexual abuse and hold them responsible for the incalculable damage they’ve caused.”

“Innocent children are revictimized each time CSAM is distributed,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “As an administrator of a CSAM distribution operation, Walter Onstad fueled a market that preys on our most vulnerable. No matter how they commit their crimes, those who sexually exploit children will be pursued and held accountable by the FBI and law enforcement partners, for justice and the safety of our children.”

The Juneau Resident Agency of the FBI Anchorage Field Office, with assistance from the Ketchikan Police Department and North Carolina’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.