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Release Drug Bust Nets Largest Seizure of Crack in Southeast Alaskan History Anchorage, Alaska – The single largest seizure of crack cocaine and methamphetamine in Southeast Alaskan history resulted in the indictment of four individuals from Juneau and Seattle, U.S. Attorney Timothy M. Burgess and Drug Enforcement Administration Assistant Special Agent in Charge Harvey L. Goehring announced today. According to the indictment, on September 23, 2004, law enforcement authorities in Juneau seized a drug shipment allegedly consisting of 1.1 kilos of crack cocaine, approximately 450 grams of high-purity methamphetamine (known as "ice"), and ½ kilo of powder cocaine. The drugs were allegedly concealed in a pick-up truck shipped aboard an Alaska Marine Highway ferry, M/V MALASPINA, from Bellingham, WA to Juneau. This seizure represents the largest quantity of ice and crack cocaine ever seized in Southeast Alaska. Francis Sampaga Guerrero, 36, and Angela Balogh Galeana, 28, both of Juneau, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Anchorage this week on conspiracy and drug possession charges. Also indicted on the same charges were Robert Lee Moore, 52, and Adrian Lopez-Cota, a/k/a Angel Bautista-Alvarado, age unknown, both of Seattle. The charges alleged in the indictment, in the event of conviction, would subject each defendant to a mandatory minimum 10 years in prison and a maximum of life, and a $4 million fine. The case was investigated by the Southeast Alaska Narcotics Enforcement Team ("SEANET"). The SEANET investigation was supported by the Southeast Alaska Cities Against Drugs ("SEACAD"), U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (Anchorage and Seattle offices), Alaska State Troopers Major Offenders Unit, Western Alaska Alcohol Narcotics Enforcement Team ("WAANT"), Mat-Su Drug Unit, Fairbanks Drug Unit, Juneau Police Department Patrol and Investigations Unit, Ketchikan Police Department Patrol Unit (including scent detection canine Morea), and Air National Guard Counter-Drug Support Program. # # # Charges are merely accusations; and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty at trial or a plea of guilty is accepted by the Court. |
