Kenai Woman Indicted on Multiple Drug and Gun Charges

ANCHORAGE—United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today, January 26, 2012, that Doris Jean Lageson, a 42-year-old resident of Kenai, Alaska, was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 20, 2012, in Anchorage on the following seven counts: (count one) participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C); (count two) using a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 924(c); (counts three-five) money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)(B)(i); (count six) providing a firearm to a felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(d); and (count seven) being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g). The indictment also seeks forfeiture of Lageson’s single family home in Kenai.

According to the indictment presented to the court, Lageson’s earliest charged activity began in July 2009, when she sent the first of three Western Union wire transfers of drug distribution proceeds to co-conspirators in Bakersfield, California. The indictment further alleges that beginning at some exact time unknown, but at least including the period of July 2010 to August 5, 2010, Lageson conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine. In October 2010, Lageson, who is a convicted felon, unlawfully possessed a .45 caliber handgun, and gave that handgun to a person she knew to be a convicted felon. The indictment alleges that Lageson gave the handgun to the known felon during and in relation to a drug trafficking conspiracy.

Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly Sayers-Fay, who presented the case to the grand jury, advised that the drug trafficking conspiracy offense carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $1 million fine, and three years’ supervised release. The charged money laundering offenses entail similar maximum penalties: up to 20 years in jail, three years’ supervised release, and a fine not to exceed $500,000 or twice the amount of fund laundered. For each of the crimes of providing a firearm to a felon and being a felon in possession of a firearm, the maximum penalties are 10 years’ imprisonment, up to three years’ supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. If convicted on using a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense, Lageson would face a sentence of at least five years’ imprisonment consecutive to any other sentence of imprisonment, and up life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and five years’ supervised release. As noted, the United States is also seeking to forfeit Lageson’s residence as property that facilitated a drug trafficking offense.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives all participated the investigation the led to the indictment in this case.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.