A Fairbanks man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Alaska for allegedly distributing fentanyl that led to a fatal overdose earlier this year.
Court documents state that Jacob Peter, 25, is accused of distributing fentanyl to another individual in Fairbanks on March 3, 2025. The following day, the recipient died from an apparent overdose.
Peter faces one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott A. Oravec of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska for his initial court appearance. If convicted, Peter could receive a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and up to life in prison. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge after reviewing the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal factors.
U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge David Reames of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Seattle Division Office announced the indictment.
The investigation is being conducted by the DEA Seattle Division Office and Anchorage District Office with help from the Alaska State Troopers as part of the Fairbanks Area Narcotics Team (FANT) High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Vosacek is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative led by the Department of Justice to combat illegal immigration, eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and address violent crime and drug trafficking in communities across the country. The initiative brings together resources from programs such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). More information about Operation Take Back America can be found at https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline.
“An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
