The final two defendants in a drug trafficking operation have pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl and heroin in Alaska. Semaj Brown, 34, and Brandon Garrett, 46, both from Anchorage, admitted to working with others to obtain drugs from California and transport them to Alaska using the mail system and checked airline baggage.
Court documents state that Brown and Garrett conspired with Julio Juarez, Marcelino Juarez, Shane Murphy, and Gustavo Sebastian Lopez-Chavez. The group made several trips between Alaska and California to purchase narcotics. Funds were pooled by members of the conspiracy for these trips.
The investigation led by law enforcement reached a turning point on August 22, 2024. Agents from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service found a suspicious parcel headed for an Anchorage address. Four days later, officials seized more than two kilograms of fentanyl powder from the package after executing a search warrant. Law enforcement then performed a controlled delivery at the intended location where Marcelino Juarez was seen taking the package and leaving with Brown in a vehicle. After meeting another vehicle at a gas station, police conducted traffic stops resulting in the arrest of Marcelino Juarez and detention of Garrett.
Further inquiry revealed that Brown and Murphy traveled from Anchorage to Los Angeles between July 3-5, 2024, buying heroin and fentanyl from various sources including Lopez-Chavez.
On July 6, 2024, authorities at Los Angeles International Airport intercepted approximately one kilogram of heroin and two kilograms of fentanyl powder in luggage bound for Anchorage. When Murphy and Brown arrived back in Alaska they noticed their suitcase was missing.
Lopez-Chavez was arrested by FBI agents in Los Angeles on November 14, 2024. At that time he had about 23 kilograms of fentanyl along with cash and counterfeit immigration documents.
Overall, investigators seized at least 36 kilograms of fentanyl and about 10 kilograms of heroin related to this case.
Marcelino Juarez was first charged by complaint in August 2024 before being indicted along with Julio Juarez, Brown, and Murphy in September. Both Juarez brothers pleaded guilty in July 2025; Murphy entered his plea in April; Lopez-Chavez was charged and indicted last November before pleading guilty this June; Garrett was indicted this March. Stockton Police Department identified the Juarez brothers as well as Brown as known gang members.
Sentencing for all defendants is expected within three months. Most face sentences ranging from ten years to life imprisonment; Julio Juarez faces fifteen years to life because of a prior attempted murder conviction for which he served eleven years.
“A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.”
U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska announced these developments along with Special Agent Rebecca Day (FBI Anchorage), Colonel Maurice Hughes (Alaska State Troopers), and Inspector Anthony Galetti (USPIS Seattle Division).
Multiple agencies contributed to investigating this case including: FBI Anchorage Field Office; Alaska High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Mat-Su Narcotics Team; HIDTA’s Southcentral Area-wide Narcotics Team; Fairbanks Area-wide Narcotics Team; Anchorage Airport Interdiction Team; USPIS; FBI offices in Los Angeles/Sacramento; IRS Criminal Investigation; U.S Marshals Service Los Angeles Special Response Team; LAPD; Stockton Police Department; California Highway Patrol as well as local law enforcement part of FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force.
Assistant U.S Attorneys Tom Bradley, Jack Schmidt, and Bill Reed are prosecuting the case.
