Violent Anchorage Drug Dealer Convicted of Distributing Methamphetamine

ANCHORAGE, AK—United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced that on April 7, 2010, after deliberating for approximately three hours, a federal jury of six men and six women found Michael Dewayne Barnes, of Anchorage, Alaska, guilty of distributing methamphetamine.

Barnes, 42, was tried before United States District Court Judge Timothy M. Burgess in Anchorage.

According to Special Assistant United States Attorney Erin White, who prosecuted the case, the evidence presented at trial established that Barnes met a confidential informant working for the FBI at the Anchorage airport on May 5, 2007. Barnes provided the informant with approximately 6.5 grams of pure methamphetamine. According to information obtained by law enforcement, the defendant has also been involved in distributing other controlled substances, such as heroin and powder cocaine, and he has ties to local gang members involved in drug trafficking. In 1987, the U.S. Attorney’s Office successfully prosecuted Barnes for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Barnes received a sentence of five years’ imprisonment. Despite a relatively lengthy jail sentence, Barnes went on to commit numerous other crimes once released. In recent years, the State of Alaska has successfully prosecuted Barnes for misconduct involving a controlled substance, dangerous drugs, damaging property, two counts of larceny, and two counts of armed robbery.

Judge Burgess scheduled sentencing for Barnes on August 6, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. Due to Barnes’ prior drug history, the law provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $4 million, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based on the seriousness of the offense and the criminal history of the defendant.

Barnes continues to remain in custody pending sentencing.

Ms. Loeffler commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, the Anchorage Police Department, and the State of Alaska Department of Corrections for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Barnes. Ms White is a prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office who is funded by the Municipality of Anchorage for the purpose of prosecuting gang-related and violent crime cases.