News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 24, 2010
Contact: Jodie Underwood
Number: (206) 553-5443

Talkeetna Drug Dealer Found Guilty Of Meth Charge

MAY 24 -- (Anchorage, AK) – DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Mark Thomas and the United States Attorney for the District of Alaska, Karen L. Loeffler announced that on March 19, 2010, after deliberating for approximately one hour, a federal jury found William G. Pariseau guilty of attempting to possess methamphetamine with the intent to distribute in Alaska.

According to the evidence presented at trial, on October 15, 2008, the DEA Airport Interdiction Team in the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Seatac HIDTA Task Force) contacted Pariseau while he was waiting to board a connecting flight to Anchorage. Earlier that day, Pariseau had flown into SeaTac from Tucson, Arizona. After deplaning from the first class cabin of the Tucson flight, law enforcement officers followed Pariseau to the boarding area for his connecting flight. After observing that Pariseau was walking stiffly and appeared to have unnatural bulges under his pant legs, law enforcement officers made contact with Pariseau. A search of his person revealed he was carrying approximately 2.3 pounds of methamphetamine strapped to his legs with elastic bandages. Pariseau was then arrested.

Sentencing is scheduled on August 3, 2010, at 10:00 a.m., before the Chief United States Court Judge Ralph R. Beistline. Due to the fact that Pariseau was convicted of possessing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, the law provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison, a fine of $4 million, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based on the seriousness of the offense and the criminal history of the defendant.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (Anchorage District Office and the Seatac HIDTA Task Force) and the Alaska State Troopers.