USAO - Alaska News Update

Offices of the United States Attorneys   You are subscribed to USAO - Alaska news updates. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Fairbanks Man Indicted for Stalking 01/21/2021 12:00 AM EST Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced today that Roger Keeling, 54, of Fairbanks has been indicted by a federal grand jury for stalking.  According to court documents, Keeling allegedly strangled his girlfriend in October 2020. The victim obtained a Domestic Violence Protective Order. Keeling pleaded to a misdemeanor assault charge in state court, and upon release, violated the DVPO numerous times over several weeks while on ankle monitoring. Keeling continued to harass and contact the victim by emailing her, following her and leaving notes for her, slashing her vehicle tires, and placing her in fear for her life.   If convicted, Keeling could face a sentence of up to five years. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.  The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fairbanks Police Department (FPD) conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Doty. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice's violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. The charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Aniak Man Indicted on Federal Gun Charges 01/21/2021 12:00 AM EST Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced today that Alfred Morgan, 35, of Aniak, has been indicted for Felon in Possession of a Firearm. According to court documents, on August 6, 2020, Alaska State Troopers (AST) responded to a domestic violence report at a residence in Aniak. During the interaction, Troopers contacted a male at the residence, who brandished a knife at the responding Trooper. Morgan then allegedly approached the Trooper, positioned himself between the male and the Trooper, then raised the barrel of a Ruger Mini 14 rifle at the Trooper. The Trooper gave commands to drop the rifle, which the defendant did, only to retrieve the rifle again when a second Trooper arrived on scene. Troopers were able to secure Morgan and the rifle, then began to apprehend the other male on scene. While Troopers were apprehending the other male, Morgan fled the scene in handcuffs. He was apprehended and transported to the Aniak jail. Morgan has 2 prior felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing firearms.               If convicted on the federal charges, Morgan faces a maximum of 10 years in prison.  Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Alaska State Troopers (AST) conducted the investigation leading to the charges in this case.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Doty. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice's violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice's signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department's past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please visit  https://www.justice.gov/ag/about-project-guardian Additionally, this case is part of the Rural Alaska Anti-Violence Enforcement Network (RAAVEN), the U.S. Attorney's Office is increasing engagement, coordination, and action on public safety in Alaska Native communities. The charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Two Utqiagvik Residents Indicted on Drug Trafficking Charges 01/21/2021 12:00 AM EST Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced today that Bryron Shontell McFadden, 41 and Roberta Ruth Sielak, 30, of Utqiagvik were indicted on drug trafficking charges, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and attempt to possess controlled substances with intent to distribute. The criminal complaint alleges that on or about January 12, U.S. Postal Inspectors identified a suspicious package mailed from Arizona to Utqiagvik resident Roberta Sielak. On January 13, 2021 the package was intercepted in Anchorage by U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). Further inspection of the package revealed approximately 200 blue pills hidden inside. Preliminary test results, subject to laboratory confirmation, indicated the pills contain fentanyl. Postal inspectors state they installed a tracking device in the package and delivered it to Sielak's mailbox.  Sielak retrieved the package, placed it in a vehicle and drove to McFadden's residence. McFadden took the package from Sielak's vehicle and went into his residence, and allegedly opened the package. Upon realizing there was a tracking device, he fled the residence with the tracking device and disposed of it in a nearby dumpster. McFadden was located by the North Slope Borough Police Department and taken into custody. Sielak was located in her vehicle by Borough police and detained for questioning. If convicted, Sielak and McFadden may be sentenced to up to 40 years in prison. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the North Slope Borough Police Department, and Alaska's High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Anchorage Airport Interdiction Team conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case. The Anchorage Airport Interdiction Team is a Trooper-led drug interdiction task-force staffed by investigators and agents from the Alaska State Troopers, Anchorage Police Department, North Slope Borough Police Department, Anchorage Airport Police Department, Sand Point Police Department, DHS – Homeland Security Investigations, US Postal Inspection Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the US Coast Guard Investigative Service. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Doty. This case is part of the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Alaska Rural Alaska Anti-Violence Enforcement Network (RAAVEN) Initiative's ongoing efforts to increase engagement, coordination, and action on public safety in Alaska Native communities.  An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. You have received this e-mail because you have asked to be notified of changes to the Offices of the United States Attorneys website. GovDelivery is providing this service on behalf of the Executive Office for United States Attorneys, Department of Justice, 950 Pennsylvania Ave., NW · Washington, DC 20530 · 202-514-2000 and may not use your subscription information for any other purposes. Manage your Subscriptions | Department of Justice Privacy Policy  | GovDelivery Privacy Policy Follow the Offices of the United States Attorneys on Twitter: @USAttorneys