A Fairbanks woman was sentenced on Aug. 5 to 21 years in prison for her role in distributing fentanyl that resulted in the overdose death of a local man in 2022.
According to court documents, Samantha Pearson, 39, and Edward Ginnis, 40, both of Fairbanks, conspired from May to July 2022 to distribute and possess with intent to distribute drugs in the Fairbanks area. Ginnis distributed drugs to Pearson, who then sold them to others. Their actions were part of a larger drug trafficking operation allegedly directed by an inmate in a California prison.
On June 11, 2022, Ginnis received a shipment containing fentanyl through the mail and sent messages seeking potential buyers. Pearson agreed to help sell the drugs. On June 25, Adam Sakkinen contacted Pearson about purchasing drugs and later sent her $50 before arranging a meeting. That same day at around noon, Sakkinen called Pearson; shortly after, at approximately 12:58 p.m., first responders found him unconscious behind the wheel of his car with drug paraphernalia nearby following an accident on the side of a road in Badger, Alaska. The paraphernalia tested positive for fentanyl.
First responders administered six doses of Narcan before Sakkinen regained a pulse and was transported for medical care but died after spending eleven days on life support. Lab results showed his blood contained twenty nanograms per milliliter of fentanyl at time of death—more than double what is considered lethal.
Pearson and Ginnis were indicted on federal drug trafficking charges on Jan. 18, 2025; both pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in death—Pearson on April 20, 2026, and Ginnis on April 3, 2025. Ginnis was previously sentenced to twenty-two years imprisonment.
In delivering Pearson’s sentence, the Court stated that “this was more of a poisoning than an overdose,” and emphasized deterrence by noting that sentences would be harsh when illegal substance sales result in death.
“This sentence is the conclusion of a multi-year investigation and prosecution to hold Ms. Pearson and Mr. Ginnis accountable for their greed-motivated decision to distribute the drugs that took an innocent life,” said U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon.
The case involved multiple agencies including DEA Seattle Field Division; Anchorage District Office; Alaska State Troopers; North Slope Borough Police Department; North Pole Police Department; Fairbanks Police Department. Assistant U.S Attorneys Stephan Collins, Chris Schroeder and Alana Weber prosecuted it as part of Homeland Security Task Force Region One under Executive Order 14159.