Three Indicted in Large Fairbanks and Anchorage Cocaine Distribution Ring

ANCHORAGE—United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today, February 23, 2012, that the grand jury has returned an indictment against three Fairbanks men for conspiracy to distribute over 50 kilograms of cocaine and other related charges. The indictment further alleges that 26 kilograms were seized during the course of the investigation.

Donnell R.S. Johnson, 29, Joshua Mustovich, 29, and Christopher Anderson, 24, were arrested on January 27, 2012 on charges of conspiracy in relation to 12 kilograms of cocaine that were seized in Anchorage. The indictment alleges that Johnson, Mustovich, and Anderson were to distribute the cocaine in Fairbanks. Johnson was arrested in Anchorage after allegedly delivering the 12 kilograms to a conspirator to drive back to Fairbanks. The indictment claims that on the date of his arrest, Johnson possessed approximately $33,000 in drug proceeds, over $100,000 in jewelry purchased with drug proceeds, quantities of crack cocaine and cocaine powder, drug paraphernalia, and a money counter.

The indictment further alleges that Mustovich and Anderson were arrested after arriving at the Wendy’s parking lot in Fairbanks to receive the 12 kilograms of cocaine. That same day, the indictment alleges that Mustovich and Anderson possessed approximately $35,443 in drug proceeds, cocaine, a Glock 26 9mm loaded pistol, a money counter, and drug paraphernalia.

Prior to the arrests, the indictment alleges that in November 2011, law enforcement seized 10 kilograms of cocaine from two separate packages sent to Anchorage, and that Johnson attempted to coordinate the receipt of approximately six kilograms of cocaine in one of the intercepted parcels. It is further alleged that in July 2011, two separate parcels containing an additional eight kilograms of cocaine were attempted to be shipped from Las Vegas to Fairbanks; law enforcement seized four of the kilograms.

The investigation that led to the indictment is being conducted a team of federal and state investigators from the Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI Safe Streets Task Force, the Anchorage Police Department’s Special Assignment Unit, the U.S. Postal Inspector’s Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the IRS’s Criminal Investigative Division.

All three defendants remain in federal custody in Anchorage and Fairbanks and are scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment today. The maximum penalties for the drug conspiracy charge include a minimum of 10 years in prison and maximum of life in prison, a $10 million fine, and at least five years of supervised release. The indictment also alleges forfeiture of cash and numerous assets seized, including three vehicles, jewelry, and a firearm. The charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.