S. Lane Tucker, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney's Office District of Alaska
A Fairbanks man admitted guilt to the charge of distributing fentanyl, leading to a fatal overdose of a local resident. Details revealed in court documents state that from May 2022 through July 2022, Edward Ginnis, 39, conspired with others to distribute controlled substances in the Fairbanks region. According to the agreement, Ginnis provided controlled substances to a co-conspirator, who then sold them further.
Before June 26, 2022, Ginnis supplied substances that appeared to be heroin but contained fentanyl to a co-defendant. On June 26, 2022, the fentanyl distributed by Ginnis was purchased by a man in Fairbanks, who later died from an overdose after using it.
Ginnis was taken into custody on July 14, 2022, in Fairbanks, holding fentanyl intended for distribution as part of the drug trafficking conspiracy. He is set to be sentenced on July 8, 2025, facing a mandatory minimum of 20 years incarceration, with the possibility of a life sentence. A federal district judge will decide the final sentence based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney William Narus of the District of Oregon made this announcement. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska has recused itself from this case, except for certain personnel. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven D. Clymer from the Northern District of New York is designated as Special Attorney to the United States Attorney General to manage this and other similar cases. He reports to the Deputy Attorney General or Acting U.S. Attorney Narus. Special Attorney Clymer oversees the involved personnel from the District of Alaska.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Alaska State Troopers conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alana Weber, Stephan Collins, and Chris Schroeder from the District of Alaska are handling the prosecution.
