11 indicted for conspiring to distribute controlled substance in Alaska

Indictments charge a source of supply for “Up North ‘D’ Boys” rap group,
as well residents of Fairbanks, Anchorage, and the States of Washington,
California and Florida with drug and money laundering offenses

Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today, July 25, 2013, that the grand jury has returned two additional drug conspiracy indictments stemming from the same investigation that resulted in charges against numerous members of an Anchorage based rap group back in August of 2012.   That indictment alleged a conspiracy to distribute over 50 kilograms of cocaine in Anchorage and Fairbanks. All but the alleged ringleader, Terrance S. Fleming, a/k/a “Baydilla”, have since pled guilty.  Fleming currently has a trial scheduled to begin next month.  

One of the new indictments, Case Number 3:13-cr-00079-RRB charges a conspiracy to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine, over one kilogram of heroin, ten pounds of methamphetamine, and a quantity of oxycodone, as well as a conspiracy to launder the proceeds of drug trafficking.  It charges the following individuals:

1.  Steven N. Taylor, a/k/a “Louis V.”, a/k/a “Nicky”, 42, of Seattle, WA;
2.  James Brown, Sr., A/k/a “Unc”, 65, of Washington;
3.  Leonard D. Charles, 39, of Washington;
4.  Shawn Cortez Cloyd, a/k/a “Cc”, a/k/a “Rider”, 42, of Anchorage;
5.  Timothy W. Northcutt, a/k/a “O.G.” a/k/a “Butch”, 62, of Anchorage;
6.  Etienne Q. Devoe, a/k/a “Tin”, a/k/a “Tien”, 40, of Fairbanks;
7.  Joshua J. Haynes, a/k/a “Lil’ J”, 34, of Florida (formerly of Fairbanks)
8.  Gabrielle P. Haynes, 29, of Fairbanks; and
9.  Joseph E. Irving, 54, of Washington.

The indictment alleges that Taylor, who was assisted by Brown and Charles, shipped drugs to Alaska from Washington State.  Among the drugs alleged to have been shipped by Taylor were approximately ten kilograms of cocaine in November 2011.   The Fleming indictment alleges that Fleming and his associate, Donnell Johnson, were the intended recipients of the package. 

Those kilograms, along with another five kilograms of cocaine allegedly sent by Taylor to St. Louis, Missouri, were intercepted by the United States Postal Inspection Service, Seattle Division, which joined forces with the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, the Anchorage Police Department’s Special Assignment and Vice Units, and the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigative Division during the investigation.   

In addition, the indictment alleges that Cloyd, Northcutt, Devoe, J. Haynes, and G. Haynes would receive drugs for distribution in both Anchorage and Fairbanks.  The indictment alleges that Taylor shipped over 20 parcels of drugs to Alaska, beginning in at least 2009.  The indictment provides insight into the drug trafficking business in Alaska, as it alleges that conspirators discussed how heroin and methamphetamine were the most profitable drugs to sell in Alaska, as well as the status of various drug debts owed to Taylor and Brown.   The indictment states that Brown told Taylor that Cloyd needed to be “taken care of” and “blasted” for his inability to pay a $29,000 drug debt owed to Brown and Taylor.  Finally, the indictment further alleges that drug proceeds were then laundered through bank accounts and financial wire services with the assistance of Taylor, Charles, Northcutt, Devoe, and Irving. 

Taylor was arrested in Seattle on July 10 and was arraigned on the indictment yesterday in Anchorage.   Brown, Charles, and Irving were also arrested in Washington between July 23 and 24.  Northcutt was arrested in Anchorage on July 24, and was arraigned on the indictment today.  Police are currently seeking the whereabouts of Devoe, Joshua Haynes, and Gabrielle Haynes.  Any information on their location can be reported to the DEA at (907) 271-5033.

Cloyd was arrested in Anchorage on July 18 on a separate indictment (Case Number 3:13-cr-00077-TMB) stemming from the same investigation, charging him, along with Aaron Frazier, age 40, of San Diego, CA, and Alfred Frazier, age 42, also of San Diego, with conspiring  to distribute heroin and cocaine in Alaska.  Both Aaron and Alfred Frazier are also in custody on that indictment.  Both Fraziers are prior Alaska residents. 

U.S. Attorney Loeffler stated, “These indictments send a clear message: there is no place for drug traffickers seeking to do business in Alaska.   We have a well-coordinated multiagency team of law enforcement personnel dedicated to pursuing drug traffickers who deal, supply, and impact Alaskans and we will pursue them wherever they are located.” 

Inspector in Charge of the Seattle Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Bradley Kleinknecht added that “We are committed to identifying United States mail containing drugs, and our inspectors identified over 20 suspicious packages that were linked to this drug trafficking group.  Inspectors are working every day to ensure that drug traffickers know that the United States mail is no safe haven for them.”

The investigative agencies mentioned above were supported by the Postal Inspection Service and DEA office in St. Louis, Missouri, the San Diego Police Department, the FBI’s Seattle District Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives.  The maximum penalties for the drug conspiracy charge include a minimum of 10 years in prison and maximum of life in prison, a $10 million fine, and at least five years of supervised release.  The money laundering conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, as well as a $500,000 fine.  The charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. 

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.