ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A federal grand jury has indicted three Fairbanks residents on charges of conspiring to distribute more than 50 kilograms of cocaine in what authorities say is the largest-ever haul of the drug bound for Alaska.
The indictment names Donnell Johnson and Joshua Mustovich, both 29, along with Christopher Anderson, 24.
U.S. Attorney for Alaska Karen Loeffler said in a prepared statement that 26 kilos of cocaine were seized during the investigation.
The men were arrested Jan. 27.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Russo described it as the largest seizure of Alaska-bound cocaine from one investigation.
“There have been larger cocaine seizures that involve Alaska, but not where Alaska was the destination,” he said
Prosecutors say Johnson was arrested after delivering 12 kilograms of cocaine he received from Washington state and Nevada, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported.
Two parcels with about 8 kilos were shipped July 18 from Las Vegas, and one was intercepted. Two more packages from Washington state with about 10 kilograms were intercepted, according to the indictment.
The indictment alleges the three had been dealing drugs since December 2010, sending an unnamed conspirator to Anchorage to pick up cocaine and for delivery to Fairbanks.
On the day of his arrest, the indictment alleges Johnson has approximately $33,000 in drug proceeds, over $100,000 in jewelry purchased with drug proceeds, crack cocaine and cocaine powder, drug paraphernalia and a money counter.
The indictment also alleges that Mustovich and Anderson has about $35,443 dollars in drug proceeds, cocaine and a loaded pistol.
Not named in the indictment is Fairbanks resident Mihla N. Hall, 28, who has agreed to plead guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to distribute for receiving a duffle bag with 12 kilos of cocaine Jan. 26 outside an Anchorage Fred Meyer store under similar circumstances as the arrest of the other two defendants.
Hall will be sentenced to a minimum of 10 years in prison, according to a written plea agreement filed in federal court Thursday. It is possible Hall will be sentenced to less than 10 years based on factors including whether she cooperated with investigators, Russo said. But he said he could not comment on whether she cooperated.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
