Shawn N. Anderson, United States Attorney for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, has announced the sentencing of Alejandro Manuel B. Gagarin. Gagarin, also known as Alex, received a prison sentence of 12 months and one day on April 24, 2025. This follows his conviction on charges of conspiracy to distribute 50 or more grams of methamphetamine, violating federal drug laws under 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846. Alongside his imprisonment, Gagarin faces five years of supervised release and must pay a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. Due to this federal drug offense conviction, Gagarin may lose eligibility for certain federal benefits.
From March 2021 to April 2022, Gagarin engaged in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine hydrochloride along with Timothy Jerome Concepcion, an individual identified as I.M.C., Jacob Vance Manibusan, and others. This distribution network used hotel rooms rented from a local resort to conduct transactions. Gagarin's role included greeting customers in the hotel lobby and directing them to rooms set aside for drug transactions. After facilitating the exchange, customers would consume the drug with Concepcion. Payments made to Gagarin for the drugs were later transferred to Concepcion.
Concerning others involved, Timothy Jerome Concepcion was sentenced to 120 months in prison and five years of supervised release on February 7, 2024. He admitted guilt for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and for using and carrying a firearm during a drug crime. Jacob Vance Manibusan, alias Kadi, received 70 months in prison and four years of supervised release on April 3, 2024, after a guilty plea for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
“Minor participants in federal drug crimes will not walk away without penalties,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “Considering the effects of methamphetamine on our communities, those with any role in drug trafficking are potential targets for prosecution. The public rightly demands accountability for this unlawful conduct.”
Special Agent in Charge Lucy Cabral-DeArmas of Homeland Security Investigations Hawaii commented on the sentencing, saying, "The sentencing of Mr. Gagarin is a testament to HSI's zero tolerance for those who engage in drug trafficking in Guam. HSI will aggressively pursue those, like Gagarin, who facilitate the infiltration of harmful substances into our communities."
The investigation leading to these sentences was carried out by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Rosetta L. San Nicolas, Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Guam.
