Local Juneau Buisness Owner sentenced to 42 months in prison for her role in drug conspiracy

Anchorage, Alaska - U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that a local Juneau business owner was sentenced, May 31, 2013, in Juneau to federal prison for drug conspiracy.

Gema G.Thomas, 50, of Juneau, Alaska, was sentenced May 31, 2013, by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy M. Burgess to 42 months prison for her role in a drug trafficking conspiracy.  Her co-conspirator Darrell W. Dawson was previously sentenced to 170 months in January 2013, for his role in the drug trafficking conspiracy. 

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack S. Schmidt, who prosecuted the case, the charges arose from a joint investigation including the Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Juneau Police Department-Drug Metro Unit, which were investigating the importation of heroin into Juneau, Alaska, using United States Postal Service (USPS) Express Mail Parcels. 

In July 2012, Dawson and Thomas conspired to transport methamphetamine from the lower 48 to Juneau, Alaska.  Dawson provided Thomas $15,000 in drug proceeds for the purchase of six ounces of methamphetamine to be delivered to her business, Peer-Amid Beads, from her source of supply located in the lower 48 via USPS Express Mail.  Once received, Thomas then delivered the methamphetamine to Dawson who distributed the methamphetamine to others in the Juneau area and collected drug proceeds for future payment to Thomas for an additional six ounces of methamphetamine.

Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Burgess emphasized the seriousness of the offense and the need to deter the defendant and others as reasons for imposing the 42 month prison sentence.

Ms. Loeffler commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Juneau Police Department - Drug Metro Unit for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Thomas and Dawson.