Father and Son Sentenced for Juneau Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced that a father and son have been sentenced for their roles in distributing large quantities of methamphetamine in Juneau.  

Charles Edward Cotten, Jr., 53, of Juneau, was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess to serve 10 years in prison, followed by 25 years of supervised release, after having pleaded guilty to four counts of drug distribution.  Cotten’s son and co-conspirator, Ricky Stapler Lisk, 37, of Juneau, was previously sentenced to serve five years in prison, followed by five of supervised release, after having pleaded guilty to one count of drug distribution.

According to court documents, in May and June 2017, Cotten distributed methamphetamine to individuals on four separate occasions in Juneau, for a total of 112 grams of methamphetamine.  During one of these transactions, Cotten was accompanied by Lisk and his late common law wife and had them handle money, drugs, or both during the transaction.  The investigation revealed that one of the transactions was conducted on Cotten’s recreational boat, M/V Northwind, and that Lisk received part of the drug proceeds.

At the time of Cotten’s arrest, he was in possession of a loaded .45 caliber firearm located inside his vehicle, and an additional 391.9 grams of methamphetamine.  The total amount of drugs seized during the course of the criminal conduct was over 500 grams of methamphetamine, which was either distributed or possessed with the intent to distribute in Juneau.  Law enforcement also seized Cotten’s motorcycle and the M/V Northwind, which were used in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities.  According to court documents, the amount of drugs seized is enough dosage units to supply nearly 5,000 individuals (1/6 of the population of Juneau) with methamphetamine.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Juneau Police Department (JPD) conducted the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of this case.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack S. Schmidt.