Anchorage Couple Sentenced For Drug Distribution/Money Laundering

Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that an Anchorage couple was sentenced for drug distribution and money laundering by the United States District Court Judge Sharon L. Gleason.  The couple was indicted by the federal grand jury in Anchorage for drug distribution and money laundering of drug proceeds over a several year period.  A third defendant has recently been arrested in Oregon and remains in custody there.

The Anchorage couple, Billy Ray Lang, Sr., 62, and Tynisha Jean Merriouns, 34, were arrested in January last year after the federal grand jury returned a four count indictment charging them with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, money laundering conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute and criminal forfeiture of $40,000 in cash seized by investigators during a search of their home.

Billy Ray Lang, Sr. was sentenced to seven years in prison and to forfeit $40,000 in cash.  Tynisha Merriouns was sentenced to four years in prison and was required to forfeit $40,000 in cash and Postal Money orders.  Both Lang, Sr., and Merriouns pled guilty to conspiring to distribute heroin and methamphetamine, and conspiracy to launder drug proceeds from that conspiracy from December 2013 through October 2014.  A third co-conspirator, Billy Ray Lang, Jr., has been arrested in connection with the indictment in the Lower 48 and is awaiting transport to Alaska to face the charges.          

Ms. Loeffler commends the Anchorage Police Department and the IRS for the investigation of this case.