Sacramento Man Sentenced to Prison for Drug Conspiracy

Anchorage, Alaska-United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today, July 7, 2014, that John Joseph Brennan III, of Sacramento, California was sentenced in federal court in Anchorage for his role in a drug conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute oxycodone.

Brennan, 61, was sentenced to 68 months imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release by United States Chief District Judge Ralph R. Beistline, for his role in the drug conspiracy involving the distribution of oxycodone in Fairbanks and Juneau, Alaska between the dates of September 2008 to September 2010.

According to information presented to the court by Assistant United States Attorney Jack S. Schmidt, the defendant was a member of a large scale drug conspiracy where oxycodone was delivered to Fairbanks and Juneau, Alaska supplied by the defendant and others who were located in Sacramento, California through commercial package delivery services and drug couriers flying on commercial flights.  Oxycodone was delivered to other members of the conspiracy in Fairbanks and Juneau for subsequent distribution and the other members of the conspiracy funneled drug proceeds back to other co-conspirators located in Sacramento, California via bank deposits, wire remittance services, or drug couriers.  These drug proceeds were used to purchase additional oxycodone from Brennan, who acted as a source of supply for the conspiracy by obtaining oxycodone from physicians located in Sacramento, California and distributing the pills to other co-defendants, specifically Dante Whitley, Wilbert Barber, Deandre Dantzler, Michael Miller and Milan Thomas who distributed the pills in Alaska.  Members of the conspiracy laundered the drug proceeds using bank transactions and wire transfers in order to conceal the nature of the drug proceeds, and structure deposited the drug proceeds in a manner to avoid federal reporting requirements.

Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Beistline indicated the extreme seriousness of the offense prior to imposing the defendant sentence and stated that “members of the community were sick and tired of what drugs do to their community,” and that deterrence of the defendant and others were important aspects in fashioning an appropriate sentence.  Judge Beistline further stated Brennan had made a significant turnaround in his life after his contact with law enforcement by immediately seeking and successfully completing drug treatment and becoming a drug counselor to others while out on release awaiting sentencing, as reasons for the sentence he imposed. 

Ms. Loeffler commended the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Port of Seattle Police Department, and the Juneau Police Department-Drug Metro Unit for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of the above listed defendants.