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Press Release

California Man Convicted in Federal Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Alaska

Anchorage, Alaska - U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that a California man was convicted yesterday in a case involving the trafficking of methamphetamine in Anchorage.  A federal trial jury found David Alan Gonzales guilty of drug trafficking conspiracy and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

Gonzales, 55, was tried before United States District Court Judge Sharon L. Gleason in Anchorage.

According to Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Bradley and law student intern Lyubov Bartnitskaia, who prosecuted the case, the evidence presented at trial established that Gonzales conspired to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 52 grams of actual methamphetamine.  This case came to light when the U.S. Postal Inspection Service identified a suspicious package at their processing center on March 26, 2013.  The package had been sent to Anchorage from Anaheim, California.  Gonzales and his co-defendant, Albert Diaz Gumataotao, accepted delivery of the package on March 28, 2013.  Investigation revealed that the package contained 52 grams of methamphetamine.  A forensic chemist from the U.S. Postal Service Forensic Laboratory testified that the purity of the methamphetamine was 100%.  Though Gonzales was residing in Anchorage at the time of this offense, he has significant ties to the State of California, where he has lived most of his life.              

Gonzales remains in custody pending sentencing.  His co-defendant, Albert Diaz Gumataotao, pled guilty on November 6, 2013, to one count of drug trafficking conspiracy.  On February 12, 2014, Judge Gleason sentenced Gumataotao to imprisonment for 120 months. 

            Judge Gleason scheduled sentencing for Gonzales on October 9, 2014, at 1:30 p.m.  Based on the charges of conviction, as well as Gonzales’ prior California convictions for possession of methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine for sale, Gonzales faces a sentence of up to life in prison, a fine of Twenty Million Dollars, or both.   

Ms. Loeffler commends the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Anchorage Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Gonzales and Gumataotao.  SAUSA Bradley is a prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office who is funded by the Municipality of Anchorage for the purpose of prosecuting gang-related and violent crime cases.

Updated February 9, 2015

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