ANCHORAGE MAN SENTENCED TO 68 MONTHS IN FEDERALPRISON FOR DISTRIBUTION OF CRACK COCAINE

Anchorage, Alaska – Acting United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today, December 18, 2008, that Jordan Jerome Shanholtzer, a resident of Anchorage, Alaska, was sentenced in federal court in Anchorage to 68 months for his convictions on three counts of distribution of controlled substances.

Chief United States District Court Judge John W. Sedwick imposed the sentence on Shanholtzer, age 20.

According to information presented to the court by Special Assistant United States Attorney Erin White, the defendant sold crack cocaine to a government informant on three separate occasions in 2006. The total amount of crack cocaine distributed by the defendant was 28.8 grams. During one of the drug transactions, the defendant also carried a firearm. The defendant was indicted in July of 2007, but he eluded arrest by federal authorities by leaving the state. In June of this year, authorities were able to locate the defendant in Los Angeles, California. In May of 2007, Shanholtzer was also involved in a physical altercation at the Outback Steakhouse in Anchorage. Based on that incident, the Municipality of Anchorage currently has an open case charging the defendant with resisting arrest, attempted escape from custody, assault, disorderly conduct, and failure to appear. The prosecution of the Municipality’s case has also been delayed because of the defendant’s flight from the state.

Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Sedwick noted the serious nature of the criminal actions in this case, as well as the defendant’s history involving both drugs and firearms.

Ms. Loeffler commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Shanholtzer. SAUSA White 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 crime cases.