The final defendant in a Southeast Alaska drug trafficking conspiracy has pleaded guilty. Patricia Seal-Uttke, 32, from Ketchikan, admitted to conspiring to traffic drugs and launder money linked to a transnational drug enterprise.
Court documents reveal that on August 24, 2022, U.S. Postal Inspectors intercepted a package addressed to Seal-Uttke containing nearly 500 grams of heroin and over 430 grams of methamphetamine. A controlled delivery was conducted, during which co-conspirator Larry Marsden retrieved the package before being apprehended by law enforcement.
Seal-Uttke’s involvement was part of a larger operation. According to court records, co-conspirator Karly Fuller recruited individuals for the drug trafficking network and managed operations under the direction of an inmate in a California prison.
Co-conspirators sent parcels with controlled substances from California and other parts of Alaska to Southeast Alaska locations like Sitka and Ketchikan. Law enforcement seized parcels containing large quantities of illegal fentanyl pills, methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine. Court documents indicate that Fuller, Seal-Uttke, Marsden, and others trafficked significant amounts of drugs through the mail within one month in 2022.
Between June 2022 and July 2023, Fuller, Seal-Uttke, Marsden, Julia Brusell, and Stormy Cleveland attempted to launder over $150,000 in drug proceeds using various methods including money orders and wire transfers.
Seal-Uttke is scheduled for sentencing on September 24, 2025. She faces up to 20 years in prison. Her sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines among other factors.
Other defendants include:
– Karly Fuller: Pleaded guilty on April 23, 2025; sentencing set for September 3.
– Larry Marsden: Pleaded guilty on December 9, 2024; sentenced to 66 months’ imprisonment.
– Stormy Cleveland: Pleaded guilty on November 15, 2024; sentenced to 135 months’ imprisonment.
– Mario Klanott: Pleaded guilty on June 13; sentencing set for September 9.
– Douglas Vanmeter: Pleaded guilty on May 8; sentencing set for August 6.
– Sara Orr: Pleaded guilty on June 6; sentencing set for September 9.
– Julia Brusell: Pleaded guilty on November 15; sentenced to time served with supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney William Narus announced the development. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska recused itself from this case except certain personnel. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven D. Clymer has been appointed as Special Attorney by the United States Attorney General for this case.
The investigation involves multiple agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration Seattle Field Division and Anchorage District Office among others.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alana Weber, Stephan Collins and Chris Schroeder are prosecuting the case.
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