Juneau Man Charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Meth

ANCHORAGE—U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced that Darrell W. Dawson, 43, a resident of Juneau, Alaska, was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leslie Longenbaugh on an indictment for drug conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

According to the indictment, Dawson was involved in a conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine on or about January 2011 to on or about July 7, 2012.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack S. Schmidt, who presented the case to the grand jury, indicated that the law provides for a maximum total sentence of 40 years in prison, a fine of $4,000,000, or both for the drug conspiracy charge. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.

Judge Longenbaugh ordered Dawson be detained in federal custody pending trial. The court set a trial date of September 11, 2012, for the defendant.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Coast Guard Investigative Service, Alaska State Troopers, and the Juneau Police Department Metro Drug Unit conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

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.