Sitka Couple Indicted And Arraigned In Federal Court On Drug Conspiracy And Firearms Charges

Anchorage, Alaska – United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that Luke Roderick Lowe, 36, and Marguarite Jean Keicher, 38, of Sitka, Alaska, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Anchorage on April 21, 2015, on drug conspiracy and firearms offenses that occurred in Ketchikan, Alaska.  Keicher was arraigned on April 24, 2015, in U.S. District Court in Juneau and Lowe was arraigned yesterday in U.S. District Court in Ketchikan before Chief Magistrate Judge Deborah M. Smith.

According to the indictment, Lowe and Keicher conspired with each other and others to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine in Ketchikan, Alaska, between December 19, 2014, and January 27, 2015.  The indictment further alleges that Lowe and Keicher knowingly and intentionally possessed, used, and carried several firearms in furtherance of the underlying drug trafficking crime. The United States is also seeking forfeiture of $1,524 in U.S. Currency and nine firearms in two separate forfeiture allegations.    

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack S. Schmidt, who presented the case to the grand jury, indicated that the law provides for a maximum total sentence of life in prison, a fine of $10,000,000, or both, for the drug conspiracy charge and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years, consecutive to the drug trafficking crime to life in prison for the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, a fine of $250,000, or both.  Under the federal sentencing statutes, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense(s) and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Both defendants are currently detained pending trial.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Ketchikan Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.