Fairbanks Man Convicted of Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute

Anchorage, Alaska-U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today, that on Thursday, May 1, 2014, after a short trial, and deliberating for under 3 hours, a jury of 10 women and 2 men, found Etienne Devoe, of Fairbanks, Alaska, guilty of possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute.

Devoe, 41, was tried before United States District Court Chief Judge Ralph R. Beistline in Fairbanks.

Devoe was convicted of one count of possession of cocaine with intent to deliver, a violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C).  Devoe was charged by indictment in February 2014, regarding an incident that occurred in Fairbanks in February 2012.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Cavanaugh prosecuted the case.

In Fairbanks, Alaska, on February 1, 2012, at around 6:00 a.m., law enforcement executed a federal search warrant on a residence in connection with a separate federal indictment regarding a Fairbanks drug conspiracy.  Though not named as a co-conspirator in that drug conspiracy, Devoe was found in the residence along with two other individuals.  Devoe was in possession of six ounces of powder cocaine and a small quantity of crack cocaine that he intended to distribute.  The illegal narcotics in Devoe's possession were found inside of a duffle bag in the room where Devoe had been sleeping when law enforcement agents executed the search warrant.  Law enforcement also found $2,240 in currency in the pocket of a pair of pants found in the duffle bag, as well as Devoe's wallet and identification.  A gym membership form that had been filled out by Devoe was also in the duffle bag.  The money was bundled in two $1,000 quantities and one $240 quantity, and wrapped with rubberbands.  This is how drug distributors carry their money.  In February 2012, six ounces of cocaine had a street value in Fairbanks of roughly $1,700 per ounce or $10,000 total. 

Devoe is currently awaiting trial in a separate matter, a federal drug conspiracy scheduled for trial in Anchorage on August 11, 2014.

            Ms. Loeffler commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Alaska State Troopers, the Fairbanks Police, the University of Fairbanks Police, and the U.S. Marshal Service for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Mr. Devoe.