Following an eight-day trial, Anchorage man, 44-year-old Murville Lavelle Lampkin was found guilty of “conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, money laundering conspiracy, distribution of heroin, and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine,” the U.S. Justice Department revealed on Wednesday.

During the trial, it was revealed that an acquaintance of Lampkin, Toa Danh “Tony” Ly, had begun distribution of marijuana and Methamphetamine in the Anchorage, Valley, and Kenai Peninsula area in the Spring of 2014. Shortly after this, “Tony” began distributing heroin as well. “Tony” had several persons under him that also sold drugs as well as made deposits of the proceeds of the drug sales in Wells Fargo accounts controlled by “Tony.” He used the Fashion Nails salon on Muldoon as a front for his drug operation.

When two of “Tony’s” underlings, Rennie Davis and Robert Rast, were arrested in November of 2014, “Tony” recruited Lampkin to carry out drug sales and drug proceeds deposits. Lampkin would make his first deposit of monies into the bank on November 12th, 2014. He would continue to deposit funds into the accounts, and in time, deposited as much as $57,000 into “Tony’s” bank accounts.[xyz-ihs snippet=”adsense-body-ad”]Then, on January 8th, an FBI undercover informant went to “Tony” and negotiated a heroin purchase. “Tony” instructed the informant to go to the Muldoon McDonalds restaurant in Anchorage to meet with a new guy identified as  “Lamar.” “Lamar” was in fact, Lampkin. The meet was arranged with Lampkin via text. Lampkin, who was under surveillance, was seen leaving his residence three minutes later. Lampkin drove directly to the McDonalds and parked next to the informant, at which time, the informant got into Lampkin’s Trailblazer. 

According to DOJ, “After introducing himself, Lampkin told the informant that Pao Lee was unavailable because he was “running around,” and that the defendant is going to “take care of things on this side of town[.]” After confirming the sale of a “half” – approximately 15 grams of heroin for $1300 – Lampkin told the informant to call “Tony” for future buys, and that Tony “will call [the defendant].”

Six days later, on January 14th, after an eight-month investigation, search warrants were executed in multiple locations. When investigators searched Lampkin’s home, 400 grams of Methamphetamine would be located in a safe at the foot of Lampkin’s bed along with other drug paraphernalia and Lampkin would be arrested for the third time on drug charges.

 Lampkin had been arrested and convicted in 2002 of possession and distribution of cocaine. He received a 10-year sentence for that conviction. While incarcerated, Lampkin would be charged with promoting contraband when he was found to be in possession of oxycodone and tetrahydrocannabinol.

After his release, Lampkin would go to work as a bouncer at Rumrunner’s Old Towne Bar and Grill. It was in 2012 while he was employed at that bar that he was arrested on Assault charges in the highly publicized Johnny Brown beating case that occurred there. In 2014, Lampkin was convicted and sentenced to two months in that case. 

It was later that year that Lampkin would go to work selling drugs for “Tony.”

Although the judge will determine Lampkin’s actual sentence, because of Lampkin’s prior drug convictions, the maximum statutory penalty in this current case is “not less than 20 years to life, a fine of $20,000,000, and 10 years of supervised release.

The Department of Justice reports the status of other defendants in this case as:

• Toa Danh “Tony” Ly pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and money laundering conspiracy. The sentencing hearing is set for Dec. 2, 2016.
• Pao Lee pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and distribution of controlled substances. The sentencing hearing is set for Dec. 7, 2016.
• Robert Lee Rast pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. The sentencing hearing is set for Jan. 20, 2017.
• Tracey Trujillo pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy. The sentencing hearing is set for Jan. 9, 2017.
• Renee Marie Davis pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. On Jan. 19, 2016,  the Court sentenced her to six years in prison.
• Adam Michael Cornelison pleaded guilty to use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. On Feb. 9, 2016, the Court sentenced him to five years in prison.

Lampkin is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Sharon L. Gleason on January 12, 2017.[xyz-ihs snippet=”Adsense-responsive”]

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