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News
Release Multi-State Meth and Cocaine Ring Indicted Anchorage, Alaska—Ten members of a significant methamphetamine and cocaine distribution ring in Alaska have been arrested by federal agents in Alaska and Seattle, U.S. Attorney Timothy M. Burgess announced today. Eleven defendants were indicted last week in a multi-state conspiracy to distribute a pound of “ice,” methamphetamine which is 80% pure, and several kilograms of cocaine in Alaska, Burgess said. Francisco Martinez of Orlando, Florida, remains at large. According to the indictment, the investigation revealed that Alfredo Martinez also known as “Spike,” 31, was one of the sources for methamphetamine brought from California and Francisco Martinez, also known as “Money,” and Isai Hernandez, 24, of Seattle, Washington, were sources for the cocaine. Following last week’s indictment, search warrants were executed Friday in Anchorage and Tacoma, Seattle and Federal Way, Washington, Burgess said. Those indicted last Tuesday included: Carlos Likee Rainey, 30, of Tacoma, Washington; Shannon Dawn Rainey, 29, of Tacoma, Washington; D’Andre Tolbert, 27, of Federal Way, Washington; Damon Stevens, 29, of Tacoma, Washington; Richard James McKinnon, 25, of Anchorage; Joshua Price Pluid, 23,of Anchorage; Krista Ann Callan, 38, of Anchorage; Alexander Booker, 42, of Anchorage; Alfredo Martinez, 31, of Los Angeles, California; Francisco Martinez; and Isai Hernandez, 24, of Seattle, Washington. In addition to issuing drug trafficking charges against these individuals, the grand jury charged Pluid with two counts of possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. All the defendants charged face potential sentences of a mandatory minimum of ten years imprisonment and a maximum of life imprisonment. Pluid faces a potential additional 30 year consecutive sentence if he is convicted on both firearm violations. The indictment remained secret until the arrests were made. This investigation is the result of cooperation between the Alaska and Washington offices of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE); Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division; United States Marshal Service; Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Alaska State Troopers; Anchorage Police Department, and the United States Attorneys Offices in Anchorage, Seattle, and Tacoma. “Drug trafficking in Alaska is not just a local problem; it’s a national problem. It is a big, multi-state business. We’re determined to go after the source of supply wherever that may be. This case is the result of the cooperation of law enforcement not only here in Alaska but throughout the country,” Burgess said. Rodney G. Benson, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA said, “For the past year, the Drug Enforcement Administration, working closely with local law enforcement around the country, has been engaged in the Street Light Initiative, which shines a light on the ties between drug trafficking and violence. As this case shows, Alaska is not immune from the threat these organizations pose to our communities and citizens.” According to Brad Earman, Resident Agent in Charge of the Anchorage office of the ATF, “This case is an example of ATF’s Violent Crime Impact Team (VCIT) strategy to combat violent crime in Alaska. As a team, we have identified and dismantled a group including armed violent offenders who are associated with multiple shootings, violent crime and drug trafficking in Alaska and elsewhere.” Charges are merely accusations; and defendants are presumed innocent
until proven guilty at trial or a plea of guilty is accepted by the Court.
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