Nevada Pair Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine and Launder Drug Proceeds

Anchorage, Alaska – Acting U.S. Attorney Kevin R. Feldis announced today that Billy Cooks, 36, aka “Red Dollaz,” pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, namely methamphetamine, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.  Earlier this week, Cooks’ co-conspirator, E’lala Frank, 36, also plead guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering.  A third conspirator, Dawud Johnson, previously plead guilty to related charges of attempting to possess methamphetamine and possessing a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense.

 According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Sayers-Fay, Cooks and Johnson forged a drug trafficking partnership that revolved mostly around methamphetamine.  The two worked together to send methamphetamine from Las Vegas to Anchorage.  Cooks enlisted Frank to send the methamphetamine through the mail to contacts Johnson had in Alaska.  From December 2, 2013, through January 21, 2014, the conspirators sent three packages of methamphetamine.  They were caught when attempting to send the third package.

Cooks and Frank admitted to conspiring to transmit drug trafficking proceeds through a variety of means in order to obscure and conceal the fact that the funds were from drug trafficking.  The conspirators deposited and withdrew drug trafficking proceeds using at least two bank accounts.

Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance carries a sentence of imprisonment up to 40 years and a fine not to exceed $5,000,000.  The money laundering conspiracy carries a maximum 20 year sentence and a $500,000 fine.  Sentencing for both defendants is set for February 27, 2015.  Defendant Johnson was previously sentenced to 15 years in prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kim Sayers-Fay of the U. S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska. The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).