United States Drug Enforcement Administration

ANCHORAGE, AK- - Mark Thomas, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, Seattle Field Division, announced that eight people were indicted on June 21, 2011 by a federal grand jury in Anchorage for conspiracy to distribute oxycodone.

The 20-count indictment names as defendants Anchorage residents Jordan Young, 23, Yale Gene Jordan, 27, Mystri Simmons, 24, and Gary Zaremba, 26; California residents Clent Baumann, 43, and Christopher Bickell, 24; Jonathen Gattenby, 28, of Nevada and Jaqueline Gattenby, 30, of Washington.

All eight defendants were charged with a conspiracy to traffic narcotics and conspiracy to launder proceeds of the unlawful distribution of controlled substances. All eight defendants were also charged with one or more counts of money laundering. Within the last week, all but Christopher Bickell were arrested. Trial is scheduled for September 19, 2011.

The indictment alleges that between December 2009, if not before, and August 4, 2010, the defendants conspired to possess, with the intent to distribute, oxycodone and to launder the proceeds of the sales of oxycodone. The money-laundering charges allege 18 financial (wire transfers, deposits and withdrawals) affecting interstate commerce between Alaska and California, totaling over $90,000.

Of the defendants who were arrested, Yale Gene Jordan, Mystri Simmons, and Gary Zaremba remain in custody.

This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement (DEA), the Internal Revenue Service- Criminal Investigation and the Anchorage Police Department.

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