Ketchikan Man sentenced to 36 months in Federal Prison for drug conspiracy

Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Karen Loeffler announced today that a Ketchikan resident was sentenced in Juneau to federal prison for drug conspiracy.
           
Travis E. Straight, 38, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy M. Burgess to 36 months in prison for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy. 
           
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack S. Schmidt, who prosecuted the case, the charges arose from a joint investigation including the DEA, Port of Seattle Police Department and the Ketchikan Police Department involving the importation of heroin into Ketchikan, Alaska, using commercial package delivery services.  In May 2012, Straight arranged with co-conspirators in Washington to use a commercial package delivery service to send 405 grams of heroin to Ketchikan, Alaska, for subsequent distribution. Straight paid for the drugs using drug proceeds and admitted the heroin was intended to be sold to others.
           
Since May 2012, Straight has been incarcerated on related state drug charges to which he also pled guilty.  In the State case, Straight received a sentence of three years in prison with one year suspended. 

Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Burgess emphasized the seriousness of the offense, the importance of deterrence regarding the defendant and others, the need for protection of the public, and rehabilitation of the defendant in light of his criminal history, as reasons that supported the imposition of the above sentence. 

Ms. Loeffler commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, Port of Seattle Police Department, and the Ketchikan Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Travis E. Straight.