News and Press Releases

California Man Sentenced for Role in fairbanks drug conspiracy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 23. 2012

Anchorage, Alaska – United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today, Friday, January 20, 2012, Wilbert Barber, a resident of Sacramento, California, was sentenced in federal court in Fairbanks for his role in a conspiracy to distribute oxycodone in Fairbanks and a conspiracy to launder proceeds from the drug conspiracy.

Barber received a sentence of 114 months imprisonment and 3 years supervised release for his role in the drug conspiracy.
United States District Court Judge Ralph R. Beistline imposed the sentences on Barber, age 31.

According to information presented to the court by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly Cavanaugh, Barber was involved in a conspiracy to distribute over $130,000 worth of oxycodone pills in Fairbanks that began in 2008 and continued on through 2010. Barber was a supplier of oxycodone pills to his co-defendants in Fairbanks. Barber would send pills to Fairbanks to be distributed by co-defendants. The pills would be sent to Fairbanks using couriers who carried the pills on their bodies aboard commercial airline flights or through private mail carrier services. Barber’s co-defendants would pay for the pills by sending proceeds from the sales of those pills to Barber in California. Barber’s co-defendant’s would deposit money into Barber’s bank account or would use wire transfer services to send money to Barber in California.

Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Beistline stated that the community was tired of dealing with drug dealers such as Barber.

Ms. Loeffler commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, Fairbanks Police, North Pole Police, Alaska State Troopers, and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations Division for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Barber.

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