Sacramento Woman sentenced to 38 months in prison for role in drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy

Anchorage, Alaska - U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that a Sacramento woman was sentenced in Juneau to federal prison for drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy.

Jennifer McGrath, 26, of Sacramento, California, was sentenced June 26, 2013, by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy M. Burgess to 38 months in prison for her role in a drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy. 

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack S. Schmidt, who prosecuted the case, the charges arose from a joint investigation including the Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, Port of Seattle Police Department, and the Juneau Police Department-Drug Metro Unit, which were investigating the importation of oxycodone and money laundering offenses in Alaska. 

Between January 2009, and continuing through July 2010, McGrath was involved in a large scale drug trafficking conspiracy transporting oxycodone from California for later sale in Juneau, Alaska.  As part of the conspiracy, McGrath made multiple airline trips from California to Juneau carrying the oxycodone pills on her person.  McGrath distributed the pills to local dealers and collected the drug proceeds.  McGrath either laundered the drug proceeds using commercial wire transfers or body carried drug proceeds back to California for members of the conspiracy.  During the course of the conspiracy, McGrath transported approximately 1500 pills of oxycodone and laundered over $14,000 in drug proceeds.  On July 22, 2010, McGrath was contacted by law enforcement at the Seattle-Tacoma (SEA-TAC) Airport where she was scheduled to fly from Juneau to California while in possession of approximately $7,000 in cash, which was seized by law enforcement.

Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Burgess emphasized the seriousness of the offense and the need to deter the defendant.  He also emphasized the need to protect the public from further crimes of the defendant, to provide treatment in the most effective manner, and to avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities as reasons for imposing the 38 month prison sentence.

Ms. Loeffler commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, Port of Seattle Police Department, and the Juneau Police Department-Drug Metro Unit for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of McGrath.