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Press Release

Anchorage Man Convicted of Drug and Money Laundering Offenses

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Alaska

Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced that after an eight-day trial, a federal jury found Murville Lavelle Lampkin, 44, resident of Anchorage, Alaska, guilty yesterday of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, money laundering conspiracy, distribution of heroin, and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

According to the evidence at trial,  starting in late spring 2014, Toa Danh “Tony” Ly began to distribute marijuana and methamphetamine in Anchorage, the Valley, and Kenai Peninsula.  Ly later included heroin among the items he distributed.  Proceeds from these drug sales were deposited in Wells Fargo bank accounts.  Individuals who sold drugs and made deposits of drug money for Ly included Pao Lee, Rennie Davis, Robert Rast, Tracey Trujillo, Mark Hanes and Susan Bradshaw.

On Nov. 8, 2014, Anchorage Police arrested Davis and Rast.  Shortly thereafter, Ly met Lampkin, who agreed to sell drugs and deposit money for him.  Lampkin’s first deposits of drug proceeds occurred on Nov. 12, 2014.  In total, Lampkin deposited $57,000 worth of drug proceeds into Wells Fargo bank accounts controlled by Ly. 

On Jan. 8, 2015, an undercover informant working for the FBI called Ly and negotiated the purchase of a half-ounce of heroin for $1300.  Ly told the informant to go to a McDonald’s restaurant in Anchorage.  Ly told the informant that the “new guy Lamar” would meet him with the heroin, and that “Lamar” would be driving a silver Trailblazer.  Two minutes after this phone call, Ly called Lampkin.  After Ly received a text from the informant telling him that he had arrived at the McDonald’s, Ly called Lampkin to pass along the information.  Three minutes later, Lampkin was observed leaving his residence and driving directly to the McDonald’s where he parked next to the informant.  The informant got out of his vehicle and climbed into the Trailblazer.  After introducing himself, Lampkin told the informant that Pao Lee was unavailable because he was “running around,” and that the defendant is going to “take care of things on this side of town[.]”  After confirming the sale of a “half” – approximately 15 grams of heroin for $1300 – Lampkin told the informant to call “Tony” for future buys, and that Tony “will call [the defendant].”

On Jan. 14, 2015, law enforcement executed search warrants at multiple locations connected to the conspiracy.  In a locked safe at the foot of Lampkin’s bed, law enforcement located approximately 400 grams of methamphetamine packaged into 15 individual Ziploc baggies.  Also in the safe were smaller baggies into which doses of drugs could be packaged, and a digital scale used to measure drug quantities.

This is Lampkin’s third drug conviction.  In 2002, Lampkin pled guilty in federal court to distribution and possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute.  He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.  While in custody, Lampkin was convicted in Alaska state court of promoting contraband in the first degree for possessing oxycodone and tetrahydrocannabinol.

Lampkin was the former bouncer at Rumrunners Old Towne Bar & Grill.  In 2012, he was convicted in state court of fourth degree assault following a fight with a patron.  Lampkin was sentenced in that case to two months in jail and two years of probation.

Lampkin is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sharon L. Gleason on Jan. 12, 2017.

Because of his prior drug trafficking convictions, the maximum statutory penalty for a violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846, Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, and Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine is not less than 20 years to life, a fine of $20,000,000, a 10-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  The final sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

The status of other defendants indicted as part of this case is as follows:

  • Toa Danh “Tony” Ly pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and money laundering conspiracy.  The sentencing hearing is set for Dec. 2, 2016.
  • Pao Lee pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and distribution of controlled substances.  The sentencing hearing is set for Dec. 7, 2016.
  • Robert Lee Rast pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. The sentencing hearing is set for Jan. 20, 2017.
  • Tracey Trujillo pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy.  The sentencing hearing is set for Jan. 9, 2017.
  • Renee Marie Davis pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.  On Jan. 19, 2016, the Court sentenced her to six years in prison.
  • Adam Michael Cornelison pleaded guilty to use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. On Feb. 9, 2016, the Court sentenced him to five years in prison.

 

The case was the product of an investigation by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, an FBI-led task force comprised of FBI Special Agents, Anchorage Police Department officers, Alaska State Troopers, and the United States Marshals.  Assistance was also provided by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation; APD’s Special Assignment Unit (SAU); and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Reardon prosecuted the case.

Updated November 2, 2016

Topic
Drug Trafficking
Component