Anchorage, Alaska - U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that two Anchorage men were convicted of federal drug and weapons charges last week.
Christopher Thomas Mejia, 24, and Jared Thomas Bowers, 23, both of Anchorage, Alaska, were tried before Chief U.S. District Court Judge Ralph R. Beistline in Anchorage, Alaska.
A federal jury of seven men and five women found Mejia and Bowers guilty of a drug trafficking conspiracy, attempted possession of heroin with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Bradley, who prosecuted the case, the evidence presented at trial established that Mejia and Bowers conspired to distribute approximately 97 grams of heroin. They supplied their co-defendant, Rhadames Marmolejos, Jr., with heroin on eight separate occasions, which Marmolejos then sold to an undercover agent working for the Drug Enforcement Administration. In February 2013, the United States Postal Service intercepted a package containing approximately two pounds of heroin. The investigation revealed that Mejia intended to purchase one pound of that heroin for approximately $30,000. Law enforcement arrested Mejia and Bowers as the two waited in a vehicle to purchase the heroin. The two were in possession of approximately $27,000 in United States currency and a loaded.45 caliber semi-automatic pistol. Mejia and Bowers are in custody pending sentencing.
Judge Beistline scheduled sentencing for Mejia on Oct. 15, 2013, at 9:00 a.m. Bowers is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 16, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. Marmolejos, who pled guilty to drug trafficking conspiracy in a separate proceeding, is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 3, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. Based on the charges of conviction, Mejia and Bowers face mandatory minimum sentences of ten years in prison, a fine of five million dollars, or both. Marmolejos faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a fine of five million dollars, or both.
Ms. Loeffler commends the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Alaska State Troopers and the United States Postal Service for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Mejia, Bowers and Marmolejos. SAUSA Bradley is a prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office who is funded by the Municipality of Anchorage for the purpose of prosecuting gang-related and violent crime cases.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
