Anchorage Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Drug and Money Laundering Crimes
Anchorage, Alaska — United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that an Anchorage man was convicted and sentenced in federal court in Anchorage for money laundering and maintaining a place for the distribution of controlled substances.
Today, January 12, 2011, Daryl Hunter, 42, of Anchorage, Alaska, pled guilty before United States District Judge H. Russel Holland to 20 counts of money laundering and one count of maintaining a place for the distribution of controlled substances. After accepting his pleas, Judge Holland sentenced Hunter to 60 months in prison to be followed by 36 months of supervised release. Hunter will also forfeit approximately $1 million in proceeds from the sale of heroin, including five golf simulators, two Rolex watches, and a 1947 Stinson aircraft.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephan Collins, who prosecuted the case, and Assistant
U.S. Attorney Craig M. Warner, who presented the case at plea and sentencing, the investigation revealed that Hunter traveled to Portland, Oregon to purchase heroin that he then sold in Anchorage. Hunter then used the profits from this distribution to purchase a 2007 Cadillac Escalade for $70,517; five golf simulators, each for $54,500; two Rolex watches for a total price of $18,475, a 1947 Stinson aircraft for a $30,000 down payment, and “Wings N Things,” a local business, using a $200,000 cash down payment.
The investigation further revealed that prior to March 2007, Hunter rented 7035 Redhawk Circle in Anchorage. During the time he resided there, and particularly on February 21, 2008, Hunter knowingly allowed that residence to be used as a place to receive or store heroin for later distribution.
This case was investigated by the Anchorage Police Department, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. IRS Special Agent in Charge of the Pacific Northwest, Marcus Williams stated that, “Alaskan law enforcement vigorously investigates those who peddle heroin, launder the resulting money, and structure currency transactions to evade the reporting requirements of financial institutions. Part of our role in this case was to ensure that the heroin profits, whether in the form of currency, golf simulators, Rolex watches or an airplane, were forfeited to the government.”
