Crack Conspiracy Nets Anchorage Man 10 Years in Federal Prison

ANCHORAGE—United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today, June 1, 2009, that Jierum Jaye Alii Duarte, a resident of Anchorage, Alaska, was sentenced in federal court in Anchorage to 120 months in prison for his participation in a drug conspiracy.

United States District Court Judge Ralph R. Beistline imposed the sentence on Duarte, age 25.

According to information presented to the court by Special Assistant United States Attorney Christine M. Thoreson, who prosecuted the case, on or about November 6, 2007, Duarte’s co-conspirator, Lewis Kaleikini, brokered a deal with a cooperating witness wherein Kaleikini would sell him four ounces of crack for $4,400. When the cooperating witness arrived at the Gaming Place in the Russian Jack Plaza, Kaleikini and Duarte were already present. Duarte guided the cooperating witness to a nearby car where he conducted the drug deal. While in the car, Duarte gave the cooperating witness his phone number so he could contact Duarte directly the next time he wanted to buy drugs. The amount of crack recovered from this investigation totaled 99.4 grams.

Ms. Loeffler commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force, comprised of Anchorage police officers and FBI agents, for the investigation leading to the sentence in this case. SAUSA Thoreson is one of two prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office who are funded by the Municipality of Anchorage for the purpose of prosecuting gang-related and violent crime cases.