Anchorage Man Sentenced to 50 Months in Federal Prison for Involvement in Opium Distribution Conspiracy

Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced that an Anchorage man was sentenced to federal prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute large amounts of opium, and for possession of methamphetamine.

Kao Ching Saelee, 51, of Anchorage, was sentenced on Monday, April 9, by Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess to 50 months in prison.  Saelee was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2016, together with three co-defendants, for his role in the conspiracy to distribute the opium.  Saelee was additionally charged in a separate count for possession of the methamphetamine.  He pleaded guilty to the opium and methamphetamine charges in October 2017.

According to court documents, between April and June 2016 in Anchorage, Saelee was involved in helping to distribute approximately 1,200 grams of opium in three separate transactions.  The investigation revealed that Saelee had allowed his residence in Anchorage to be used to store large amounts of opium, which were distributed by another participant in the conspiracy.  On June 14, 2016, a federal search warrant was executed at Saelee’s residence leading to the seizure of additional amounts of opium and a large amount of methamphetamine.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force conducted the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of this case.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph W. Bottini.