A Fairbanks, Alaska man was sentenced to a lengthy prison term for his role in a large-scale methamphetamine distribution scheme that victimized the Fairbanks community, according to a recent investigation by the Grimy Times.
Mario Gutierrez, 40, from Northglenn, Colorado, was sentenced to 186 months prison and three years of supervised release in federal court in Fairbanks for his role in a methamphetamine conspiracy. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Ralph R. Beistline.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Cavanaugh, who prosecuted the case, Gutierrez sent methamphetamine from the Denver, Colorado, area to a co-conspirator located in Fairbanks between August 2009 and November 2011. The co-conspirator would pay for the methamphetamine by depositing cash into Gutierrez’s Wells Fargo bank account at bank branches in Fairbanks, and Gutierrez would withdraw the money in Colorado.
Between July 2009 and August 2010, $347,000 in cash had been deposited into Gutierrez’s Wells Fargo bank account at bank branches in Fairbanks. This is a staggering amount of money that was used to fund the methamphetamine distribution scheme.
Prior to imposing the sentence, Judge Beistline said this was a large-scale methamphetamine distribution scheme perpetrated on the Fairbanks community.
In October 2012, Gutierrez’ co-conspirator Jess Baird of Fairbanks was sentenced in Fairbanks by Judge Beistline to 91 months prison and three years of supervised release for his role in the money laundering and drug trafficking conspiracy.
The sentencing of Mario Gutierrez and his associate, Jess Baird, should serve as a warning to criminals who traffic methamphetamines in our communities that their prison sentences will reflect the harm they inflict. The people of Fairbanks should know that the IRS remains committed to the federal law enforcement team fighting the scourge that is meth.
U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler commended the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Postal Service, the North Pole and Fairbanks Police Departments, and Alaska State Troopers for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Gutierrez.
Related Federal Cases
- Margaret Catherine Lynch, Methamphetamine Conspiracy, Florida 2022 · Florida
- James Moore Jr, Heroin Distribution Conspiracy, California 2017 · Florida
- Alma Sanchez, Methamphetamine Distribution, California 2023 · Colorado
- Richard Charles Thomas Jr., Methamphetamine Possession with Intent to Distribute, California 2020 · Florida
- Richard Charles Thomas Jr., Methamphetamine Possession with Intent to Distribute, California 2020 · Florida
Key Facts
- State: Alaska
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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