Fairbanks Man sentenced to 87 months in prison for drug trafficking conspiracy

Anchorage, Alaska - U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that a man from Fairbanks, Alaska, was sentenced in federal court in Anchorage for his role in an Anchorage and Fairbanks drug conspiracy. 

Joshua Mustovich, 31, from Fairbanks, Alaska, was sentenced on September 6, 2013, by U.S.  District Court Chief Judge Ralph R. Beistline.  Mustovich received a sentence of 87 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release.  Mustovich had previously pled guilty to count one of an indictment charging him with drug conspiracy.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney’s Frank Russo and Kelly Cavanaugh, who prosecuted the case, in January 2012, Mustovich provided a duffle bag with $250,000 in cash, that he had received from Donnell Johnson, to a co-conspirator in Fairbanks, Alaska.  That co-conspirator then drove to Anchorage and met up with Johnson, who exchanged the bag with money for another duffle bag full of 12 kilograms of cocaine.  Mustovich was set to receive the 12 kilograms of cocaine in Fairbanks, but it was intercepted by law enforcement before the cocaine arrived in Fairbanks.  Law enforcement then contacted and arrested Mustovich at the area in Fairbanks where he was scheduled to pick up the delivery of cocaine.

Mustovich was a member of a drug trafficking conspiracy where some of his co-conspirators attempted to conceal their drug trafficking by claiming they were involved in a legitimate business, specifically that they were “artists,” employees, or promoters of an Anchorage recording label and rap and hip hop performance group known as “Out Da Cutt” or “ODC” Entertainment and “UNDB” (Up North ‘D’ or Dope Boys).  Members of this conspiracy would record rap and hip hop songs, post videos on Youtube.com, and perform local shows in Anchorage and Fairbanks.  Much of their music glorified the lifestyle of selling illegal narcotics and committing other crimes.  The lavish and extravagant lifestyle portrayed in their music and videos was supported by their sales of illegal narcotics. 

Prior to imposing the sentence, Judge Beistline informed the defendant that the sentence was designed to punish him for engaging in such a crime and to impart to him respect for the law.

Mustovich was a member of a wide ranging conspiracy along with 13 co-conspirators located in Anchorage and Fairbanks.  Donnell Johnson, Antonio Fleming, Dalon Johnson, Tevoris Carter, Emma Shine, and Terrance Fleming have pled guilty for their roles in connection with the conspiracy and await sentencing.

Ms. Loeffler commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, and the Anchorage Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Mustovich.