Karly Fuller, a 31-year-old resident of Sitka, Alaska, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for her involvement as a leader in the southeast arm of an Alaska drug trafficking organization. Upon release, she will also serve three years on supervised release.
Court documents state that Fuller met a co-conspirator while incarcerated at Hiland Mountain Correctional Center in 2022. This individual recruited her to distribute drugs for a trafficking group led by an inmate in a California prison after her release. Fuller returned to Sitka in July 2022 and brought at least five others into the operation to distribute drugs throughout Southeast Alaska. Among those recruited was Stormy Cleveland, 39, of Ketchikan, who distributed drugs under Fuller’s direction.
Federal agents intercepted three parcels sent by members of the drug enterprise to Cleveland between November and December 2022. These packages contained more than 15,500 illicit fentanyl pills. In addition to distributing drugs, Fuller laundered money for the organization. Between April and July 2023, she participated in at least 95 monetary transactions totaling over $99,500.
Several co-defendants have also faced charges and sentencing related to this case:
– Larry Marsden, 43, of Ketchikan pleaded guilty in December 2024 to conspiracy charges involving distribution and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances as well as money laundering conspiracy. He received a sentence of 66 months’ imprisonment and three years on supervised release.
– Stormy Cleveland pleaded guilty in November 2024 on similar charges and was sentenced in March 2025 to serve 135 months’ imprisonment followed by five years on supervised release.
– Mario Klanott, 38, of Sitka pleaded guilty in June 2025 and faces up to twenty years in prison.
– Douglas Vanmeter, 44, of Sitka pleaded guilty in May 2025; he was sentenced on September 3rd to forty months’ imprisonment with three years’ supervised release.
– Sara Orr, 34, of Ketchikan pleaded guilty earlier this year; her sentencing is scheduled for September and she faces up to twenty years behind bars.
– Patricia Seal-Uttke from Ketchikan also awaits sentencing after pleading guilty; she could face up to twenty years.
– Julia Brusell received time served after pleading guilty last year and will be subject to two years’ supervision.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon announced these developments. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska recused itself from this case except for certain personnel assignments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven D. Clymer from New York has been appointed Special Attorney by the United States Attorney General specifically for this matter and other recused cases: “He reports to and acts under the direction of the Deputy Attorney General, or his delegee, or U.S. Attorney Bradford in these cases.” Additionally: “Special Attorney Clymer supervises personnel from the District of Alaska who have been exempted from the recusal.”
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration Seattle Field Division and Anchorage District Office; Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Seattle Field Office; U.S. Postal Inspection Service Seattle Division and Anchorage Domicile; Federal Bureau Investigation Anchorage Field Office; Alaska State Troopers; with support from the U.S. Marshals Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alana Weber, Stephan Collins, and Chris Schroeder prosecuted this case.
