Anchorage, Alaska – A 31-year-vintage man was sentenced Wednesday to 30 years in prison for leading a drug trafficking organization that attempted to bring fentanyl and heroin into Alaska, according to the Department of Justice.
Drug Conspiracy Detailed
Marcelino Juarez led a conspiracy to purchase fentanyl and heroin in California and transport the drugs to Alaska via mail and checked airline baggage. Court documents indicate Juarez conspired with five others, including his brother, Julio.
The investigation gained momentum on August 22, 2024, when the U.S. Postal Inspection Service identified a suspicious parcel addressed to a residence in Anchorage. A subsequent search on August 26 revealed more than two kilograms of fentanyl.
Law enforcement then conducted a controlled delivery of the parcel. Juarez was observed entering the residence and leaving with the package alongside Semaj Brown, another individual named as a co-conspirator. Both vehicles occupied by Juarez and Brown were stopped after meeting at a gas station, resulting in Juarez’s arrest and the detention of Brandon Garrett, an occupant of the second vehicle.
Further investigation revealed that Brown and Shane Murphy allegedly traveled from Anchorage to Los Angeles between July 3 and July 5, 2024, to purchase heroin and fentanyl.
Throughout the investigation, authorities seized at least 36 kilograms of fentanyl and 10 kilograms of heroin linked to the conspiracy, according to the Department of Justice.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day stated that the Juarez brothers and their associates “are known California gangsters who moved to Alaska for the sole purpose of trafficking fentanyl and other dangerous drugs.”
Juarez pled guilty on July 28, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. In addition to the 30-year prison sentence, the court ordered him to pay a $50,000 fine and serve 20 years of supervised release following his incarceration.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long was Marcelino Juarez identified as a drug supplier?
Court documents indicate Marcelino Juarez was identified as a drug supplier in Anchorage as early as September 2022.
What types of drugs were involved in this conspiracy?
The conspiracy involved attempts to traffic fentanyl and heroin into Alaska.
Where did the drugs originate?
The fentanyl and heroin were purchased in California and transported to Alaska.
As Marcelino Juarez begins his 30-year sentence, what impact might this disruption have on the broader drug supply network operating between California and Alaska?
