ANCHORAGE DRUG DEALER SENTENCED TO 94 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR DISTRIBUTION OF CRACK COCAINE

Anchorage, Alaska—United States Attorney Nelson P. Cohen announced today, June 10, 2008, that Mutazz Abasi Chenery, a resident of Anchorage, Alaska, was sentenced in federal court in Anchorage to 94 months for his conviction of distribution of controlled substances.

Chief United States District Court Judge John W. Sedwick imposed the sentence on Chenery, age 28, of 8051 Cranberry Street, Anchorage, Alaska.

According to information presented to the court by Special Assistant United States Attorney Erin White, Chenery sold controlled substances to a government informant on three separate occasions. The total amount of cocaine base (crack) sold by the defendant amounted to 25 grams. Also, during the execution of a search warrant incident to the defendant’s arrest, law enforcement found 149.5 grams of crack in a vehicle frequently driven by the defendant. The crack was located in the fake bottom of a spray starch can stored in the trunk of the vehicle. Laboratory analysis determined that Chenery’s thumb print was located on the spray starch can.

Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Sedwick noted the serious nature of the criminal actions in this case, as well as the defendant’s history of violent criminal behavior.

Mr. Cohen commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Fisher. 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.