Anchorage’s ‘The First Lady’ and ‘The President’ Sentenced for Drug Ring

ANCHORAGE – A drug distribution and money laundering operation in Anchorage has met its end as May Saelee, 47, alias ‘The First Lady,’ and her husband Cher Vang, 47, alias ‘The President,’ were sentenced yesterday to federal prison.

Saelee received a 40-month sentence, followed by five years of supervised release, for drug conspiracy and money laundering charges. Vang was handed a 57-month sentence, also with five years of supervised release, for the same offenses.

The couple was apprehended in August 2018 during a federal investigation into a drug ring operating from Mountain View. According to court documents, they distributed over 306 grams of methamphetamine between August 2011 and 2018, using proceeds to buy jewelry and personal property. They also structured bank deposits totaling more than $150,000 to conceal their illegal activities.

Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson praised the successful conclusion of this case, emphasizing the threat posed by drug trafficking and the Department of Justice’s commitment to holding traffickers accountable. Bret Kressin of IRS-CI echoed these sentiments, highlighting the organization’s dedication to investigating and bringing such individuals to justice.

The investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Alaska State Troopers (AST). Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephan Collins prosecuted the case, which is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiatives.

Project Safe Neighborhoods focuses on reducing violent crime by targeting the most violent offenders and partnering with local prevention and reentry programs. This operation underscores the effectiveness of these multi-agency approaches in dismantling criminal networks and protecting communities from harm.