Juneau Man Convicted For Conspiracy To Distribute Methamphetamine
Anchorage, Alaska – United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced that a Juneau resident was convicted in federal court in Juneau for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
On March 2, 2011, after deliberating three and a half hours, a jury of four men and eight women found Ryan Budd Burnett, 28, a resident of Juneau, Alaska, guilty of the charges. Burnett was tried before United States District Judge Timothy M. Burgess.
According to Assistant United States Attorney Jack Schmidt, who prosecuted the case, the evidence presented at trial established that Burnett and others in the conspiracy planned to purchase methamphetamine in Seattle, Washington and have the methamphetamine shipped back to Alaska via drug courier for subsequent distribution. Burnett and a co-conspirator flew to Seattle and picked up approximately 11 ounces of methamphetamine. A video obtained from a Tukwila, Washington Target Store, presented at trial, showed Burnett purchasing packing materials that included plastic milk bags, medical tape, and an oversized bra and other clothing for the co-conspirator. The co-conspirator was tasked with transporting the methamphetamine back to Juneau via commercial air travel. The coconspirator was contacted in the Seattle-Tacoma airport with methamphetamine in her possession. Burnett was contacted and subsequently arrested. Burnett denied knowing the co-conspirator and denied his identity to the Port of Seattle police officers who contacted him.
Judge Burgess scheduled sentencing for May 13, 2011, at 2:30 p.m. in Juneau. The law provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years up to a maximum of life in prison, a fine of up to $4 million, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based on the seriousness of the offenses and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court continued the defendant’s detention.
The Port of Seattle Police Department, and the D-22 Drug Enforcement Administration–High Intensity Drug Task Force located in Seattle, Washington was responsible for the investigation that led to the prosecution of Burnett.
