A Fairbanks man was sentenced Friday in federal court to six months in prison for trying to cover up evidence in a drug case.
Brent Gunnels, 32, who had previously pled guilty, was also given two years of supervised release, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler.
Officials said Gunnels was a friend of Donnell Johnson, who was arrested in January 2012 after authorities seized more than 50 kilograms of cocaine in what authorities called the largest-ever haul of the drug bound for Alaska.
Johnson allegedly asked Gunnels and others to break into his North Pole home to remove incriminating items.
On Jan. 28, 2012, Gunnels and others went to Johnson's home and took a drug ledger, a digital scale, and a firearm before investigators were able to serve a warrant, according to a media release from Loeffler.
Johnson and his co-defendants are members of a drug trafficking conspiracy that attempted to conceal their drug trafficking by claiming they were involved in a legitimate business and were "artists," employees, or promoters of an Anchorage recording label and hip hop performance group.
There was no evidence that Gunnels was involved in Johnson's drug trafficking conspiracy.
Gunnels was indicted along with 13 other members of the conspiracy located in Anchorage and Fairbanks.
By Anchorage Daily News / adn.com