Fairbanks Brother and Sister sentenced in drug and money laundering conspiracy

Anchorage, Alaska - U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that a brother and sister from Fairbanks, Alaska, were sentenced in federal court in Fairbanks for their role in a Fairbanks drug and money laundering conspirary.

Nathan Jackson, 27, and his sister, Hailey Jelinek, 20, from Fairbanks, Alaska, were sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Ralph R. Beistline.  Jackson was sentenced to 123 months in prison and three years of supervised release.  He had previously pleaded guilty to both counts of an indictment charging him with drug conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy.  Jelinek was sentenced to six months in prison and three years of supervised release.  She had previously pleaded guilty to count two of an indictment charging her with money laundering conspiracy.

Nathan Jackson and Hailey Jelinek are brother and sister, the children of their co-defendant, Cynthia "Cindy" Hawks.  Jackson and his family, as well as his girlfriend, Fabienne Clerc, were all members of a conspiracy to sell heroin in Fairbanks and to conceal the profits and proceeds of the sale of heroin.

Jackson and his mother, Hawks, sold heroin in Fairbanks.  Clerc accompanied Jackson on heroin sales in Fairbanks and conducted financial transactions with drug proceeds on Jackson’s behalf in order to
conceal the nature, location, source, or ownership of the drug proceeds.  Hawks also conducted financial transactions with drug proceeds on Jackson’s behalf in order to conceal the nature, location, source, or ownership of the drug proceeds.  Hawks also accompanied Jackson on trips to Arizona and California when he would purchase drugs to import to Fairbanks.  Jelinek conducted financial transactions for Jackson to conceal the true source of the heroin proceeds.

During the investigation, law enforcement officers seized over $350,000 in cash proceeds from Jackson and his co-conspirators, as well as a 1995 Chevrolet Tahoe, a 2001 Toyota 4-Runner, two 2003 Sea-Doo Personal Watercraft, and an accompanying trailer.  As part of their sentence, Jackson and Jelinek forfeited any ownership interest they may have had in these items.

Judge Beistline found that a sentencing enhancement was appropriate for Jackson since he was the leader of the conspiracy.

In September 2013, Clerc and Hawks were sentenced for their roles in the conspiracy.  Clerc received a sentence of 24 months in prison and three years of supervised release and Hawks received a sentence of 32 months in prison and three years of supervised release. 

Ms. Loeffler commended the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Alaska State Troopers, and the North Pole Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecutions of Jackson, Jelinek, Hawks, and Clerc.