It was announced on Monday by U.S. Attorney Karen L Loeffler that two Anchorage men were convicted of federal drugs and weapons charges last week.

A 12-man jury comprised of seven men and five women found 24-year-old Christopher Thomas Mejia and 23-year-old Jared Thomas Bowers guilty of drug trafficking conspiracy and attempted possession of heroin with the intent to distribute as well as firearm possession in the furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in Judge Ralph Beistline’s court.

Evidence during the trial established that Mejia and Bowers had conspired to distribute approximately 97 grams of heroin. It was proven in court that the two defendants supplied their codefendant, Rhadames Marmolejos, Jr, with heroin on eight separate occasions. Unbeknownst to them, Marmolejos then sold the heroin to an undercover agent.

It was in February of 2013, that United States postal service intercepted approximately 2 pounds of heroin transiting through the mail. In an undercover operation, a drug buy was set up with Mejia and Bowers for one pound of the intercepted heroin. As Mejia and Bowers waited in a vehicle to purchase the heroin, the two men were arrested and found to be in possession of approximately $27,000 in United States currency and a loaded 45 caliber semi automatic pistol.

Both Mejia and Bowers are in custody pending sentencing.

In separate proceedings Marmolejos pled guilty to drug trafficking conspiracy and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 3, 2013 at 10 AM. Marmolejos faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a fine of $5 million, or both.

Mejia is scheduled to be sentenced on October 15, 2013 at 9 AM.

Bowers is scheduled to be sentenced on October 16, 2013 at 10 AM.

Both Mejia and Bowers face mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years in prison, a fine of $5 million, or both.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Alaska State troopers, and the United States Postal Service conducted the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Mejia, Bowers, Marmolejos.