Two plead guilty to crack-trafficking conspiracy

Two Anchorage residents have pleaded guilty to federal drug conspiracy charges alleging they sold more than 100 grams of crack, according to the U.S. attorney. Here's a press release sent out this morning:

Anchorage, Alaska – United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced that on October 13, 2009, Stafford Eugene Anderson, II, and Steven Spencer Miller, both residents of Anchorage, Alaska, pled guilty in federal court in Anchorage to charges relating to a drug-trafficking conspiracy.

Anderson, 26, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to traffic drugs and three counts of distribution of a controlled substance. Miller, 28, pled guilty to the drug conspiracy and to being a felon in possession of a firearm. The drug conspiracy involved the distribution of cocaine base, or “crack.” The defendants each entered their guilty pleas before Chief United States District Court Judge Ralph R.
Beistline.

In connection with the guilty pleas, Special Assistant United States Attorney Erin White advised the court that the defendants worked together to sell crack cocaine in Anchorage on six separate occasions in June of 2008. On one or more of these occasions, Miller sent a buyer to an apartment where Anderson kept and sold crack cocaine, and on another occasion, Anderson provided 38.3 grams of crack to Miller, who sold it and then gave the money to Anderson. The total amount of crack cocaine distributed by Anderson and Miller was 104.7 grams.

In a separate case, Miller, a convicted felon, sold an SKS 7.62x39mm semiautomatic rifle to a government informant. The FBI also supervised, monitored, and recorded that transaction.

Judge Beistline announced that Anderson’s sentencing will take place on January 7, 2010, at 9:00 a.m. Miller’s sentencing will take place on January 6, 2010, at 9:00 a.m. For both offenders, the law provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, with a potential maximum sentence of life in prison. Both Anderson and Miller also face a potential fine of $4 million. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Both Anderson and Miller remain in custody pending sentencing.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force and the Anchorage Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the convictions in this case. Ms. White is one of two prosecutors from the Municipal Prosecutor’s Office assigned to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, who are funded by the Municipality of Anchorage, for the purpose of prosecuting gang-related and violent crime
cases.