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Date: 12-19-2020
Case Style:
Case Number: 4:19-cr-00007-RRB-SAO
Judge: Ralph R. Beistline
Court: United States District Court for the District of Alaska (Anchorage County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States District Attorney’s Office, Anchorage, Alaska
Defendant's Attorney:
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Description: Anchorage, AK - Drug trafficking criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant, Brian James Tepner, 48, of Fairbanks, Alaska, who was charged possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and for being a felon in possession of a stolen firearm.
At 3:30 a.m. on March 22, 2019, Tepner was found slumped over in the driver’s seat of a vehicle parked at a Sourdough Fuel station in Fairbanks. Alaska State Troopers saw an open container of alcohol, hypodermic needles, and a spoon with burnt heroin residue in plain view during the contact. Troopers obtained a search warrant for the vehicle and seized 191 grams of methamphetamine, three grams of heroin, and a stolen S&W .22 caliber pistol. Troopers also located drug dealing paraphernalia, including ledgers, two scales, and multiple plastic baggies and cell phones. Tepner was apprehended, but left Alaska shortly after being released.
Tepner was indicted by a Grand Jury in the District of Alaska on May 22, 2019. On June 25, 2019, he was arrested in Phoenix, Arizona and transported back to Alaska.
In imposing the 108-month sentence, the Court noted Tepner’s long criminal record and recent threats he made towards his wife on recorded jail calls as justifying the lengthy sentence.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Alaska State Troopers (AST), and the Fairbanks Area Narcotics Team conducted the investigation leading to the sentence in this case. The Fairbanks Area Narcotics Team is part of Alaska’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program. Established in 2018, the Alaska HIDTA Program enhances and coordinates efforts among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, providing equipment, technology, and additional resources to combat drug trafficking and its harmful consequences in critical regions of Alaska. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Tansey.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
21:841(a)(1)and841(b)(1)(A) POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE
(1)
18:924(c)(1)(A)(i) CARRYING OF A FIREARM DURING AND IN RELATION TO A DRUG TRAFFICKING CRIME
(2)
18:922(g)(1)and 924(a)(2) FELON IN POSSESSION OF A FIREARM
(3)
Outcome: The parties are advised that the minute entry as to Brian James Tepner: 115 Imposition of Sentence is amended as follows: MINUTE ENTRY for proceedings held before Judge Ralph R. Beistline: Imposition of Sentence held 3:58 p.m. to 4:51 p.m. on 12/11/2020 for Brian James Tepner (1). Court and counsel heard re video conferencing not available at this time; Defendant wa ived physical appearance and consented to telephonic appearance to protect human health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Court accepted plea agreement. Court stated findings pursuant to sentencing guidelines. Counts 1 and 3: 108 months imprisonment which consists of 108 months on Count 1 and 108 months on Count 3 to be served concurrently; 8 years supervised release which consist of 8 years on Count 1 and *3 years on Count 3 to run concurrently; $200.00 special assessment. Count 2: DISMISSED. Defendant to forfeit interest in the property to the United States as directed. Court advised defendant appeal rights were waived. Defendant remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal. VIRTUAL APPEARANCES: Defendant present (Telephonic), in custody; Ryan Tansey, AUSA; Steven Hansen, FPD; John Schroeder, USPO. (ACW, COURT STAFF) (Entered: 12/17/2020)
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Defendant's Experts:
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