Drug Dealer Linked to Violent Homicides Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crimes

ANCHORAGE—United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced that an Anchorage man pled guilty in federal court in Anchorage to two charges of distribution of a controlled substance.

On September 16, 2011, Marquinn Prentiss Jones-Nelson, a resident of Anchorage, pled guilty to a two-count indictment involving the sale of crack cocaine before Chief United States District Judge Ralph R. Beistline.

In connection with the guilty plea, Special Assistant United States Attorney Erin White advised the court that Jones-Nelson sold 12.1 grams of crack on December 29, 2010, and 32.2 grams of crack on January 4, 2011. Jones-Nelson was recently indicted by the State of Alaska in the murder of Devante Jordan. Jones-Nelson faces state court charges of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, third-degree weapons misconduct, and tampering with physical evidence. Prior to his death, Jordan was a suspect in the murder of 17-year-old Desirae Dashon Douglas, who died on September 20, 2009, in East Anchorage. While at a party, Douglas was caught in the middle of a shootout and was struck in the neck by a stray bullet.

Judge Beistline scheduled sentencing for November 28, 2011. The law provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a fine of $5 million, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Jones-Nelson remains in custody pending sentencing and the resolution of his state charges.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force and the Anchorage Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Jones-Nelson. 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.