California Man Sentenced to 16 Years for Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin & Methamphetamine

Anchorage, Alaska-United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced that a Stockton, California man was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason to 16 years in federal prison for his role in a drug conspiracy.

Ernie Benny Juarez, Jr., 35, of Stockton, California previously pled guilty to conspiring with others to distribute large amounts of methamphetamine and heroin throughout the Anchorage community.  As part of his plea, Juarez admitted flying to Alaska from California in October 2013.  Co-conspirators subsequently sent Juarez and his associates an Express Mail package containing large quantities of heroin and methamphetamine, which Juarez intended to distribute in Anchorage.  In total, the package contained approximately 385 grams of heroin and more than 500 grams of methamphetamine.

The sentence announced today included enhancements based upon Juarez’s classification as a career offender.  Prior to flying to Anchorage to distribute drugs, Juarez had been convicted of multiple other felonies, including drug crimes in California.

In sentencing Juarez, Judge Gleason noted the seriousness of Juarez’s crime and the need to protect the public from future crimes.  Judge Gleason also emphasized the need for deterrence in these types of cases.

In announcing the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Loeffler praised the United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Alaska State Troopers, who conducted the investigation in this case.