Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that on February 28, 2013, four residents of Fairbanks, Alaska, were arrested.

These individuals were indicted by a federal grand

jury in Anchorage on February 20, 2013, on charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and oxycodone pills in Fairbanks, as well as conspiracy to launder proceeds of unlawful distribution of controlled substances. The indictment alleges that the conspiracy began in September 2010 and continued through October 2012.

The indictment names Nathan Jackson, 26, Cynthia Hawks, 44, Fabienne Clerc, 22, Hailey Jelinek, 20 and Misty McDonald 25, as defendants. Jackson, Hawks, Clerc, and Jelinek were all arrested on February 28, 2013, McDonald remains at large.

The law provides for a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000.00, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.

Ms. Loeffler commends the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, the Alaska State Troopers, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the North Pole Police Department for the investigation of this case.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.