ANCHORAGE MAN PLEADS GUILTY IN FEDERAL COURT
TO CRACK DISTRIBUTION AND ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF A FIREARM

Anchorage, Alaska – United States Attorney Nelson P. Cohen announced today, August 17, 2007, that George Hisashi Davenport, a resident of Anchorage, AK, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of distribution of crack cocaine and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Davenport, age 24, of 6700 Blackberry Drive in Anchorage, pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of controlled substances and one count of felon in possession of a firearm before United States District Court Judge Timothy M. Burgess.

In connection with the guilty plea, Special Assistant United States Attorney Christine M. Thoreson advised the court that Davenport distributed 11.4 grams of crack cocaine on two separate occasions, one in October and one in November of 2006. Davenport, who is a felon, also possessed a Vulcan V10 .45 caliber pistol in March of 2007.

Judge Burgess scheduled sentencing for November 16, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. The law provides for a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, a fine of $2,000,000, or both, on each of the two counts of distribution of controlled substances. On the count for felon in possession of a firearm, the law provides for a maximum sentence of ten years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Pending sentencing, the court continued Davenport’s detention.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force, made up of Anchorage Police Department officers and FBI special agents, conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Davenport. SAUSA Thoreson is one of two prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office who are funded by the Municipality of Anchorage for the purpose of prosecuting gang-related and violent crimes cases.