North Pole Man Indicted By Federal Grand Jury On Drug Trafficking And Firearm Charges

Anchorage, Alaska – United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that a North Pole man was indicted by a federal grand jury on drug and firearm charges.

Ray Don Groskreutz, 38, of North Pole, Alaska, was named in a two-count indictment, which alleges that Groskreutz possessed with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin on July 27, 2015, and knowingly and intentionally possessed a handgun in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime. The United States is also seeking forfeiture of the .380 caliber handgun seized from Groskreutz’s person on July 27, 2015, along with 14 firearms and numerous rounds of ammunition seized from his van.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea W. Hattan, who presented the case to the grand jury, indicated that, for the methamphetamine and heroin charge, Groskreutz faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of $5,000,000, or both.  The firearm charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years imprisonment, which must be consecutive to the drug trafficking crime, a fine of $250,000, or both.  Under the federal sentencing statutes, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense(s) and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Groskreutz is currently in custody on unrelated State charges.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Alaska State Troopers conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.