Las Cruces, New Mexico drug leader sentenced to 270 months in prison for drug trafficking in Sitka, Alaska USAO-AK

Juneau – A woman from Las Cruces, New Mexico, was sentenced today by Senior District Judge Timothy M. Burgess to 270 months in prison followed by 10 years supervised release for drug trafficking and gun possession.

Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Christina Quintana, aka “Lete,” 35, conspired to distribute and possess quantities of methamphetamine and heroin in Sitka, Alaska, and owned and released a gun to promote drug trafficking.

From May 2, 2017 to April 3, 2018, Quintana, along with her co-conspirators Andrea Avalos, Peter Krovina, Porter Treadway, Holly Chambers, Aaron Didrickson, and Eric Morisky, was handing out methamphetamine and heroin in Sitka. Non-Alaskan Quintana and Avalos were responsible for transporting and distributing methamphetamine and heroin, as well as coordinating and collecting drug debts. The other members of the conspiracy aided Quintana and Avalos in their illegal activities. All members of the drug organization owned firearms to facilitate their drug trafficking and to obtain retaliation against members who owed drug debts. For example, the defendants organized and perpetrated a violent home invasion and robbery in which Quintana shot a person in the two legs and Treadway attacked another person with a claw hammer to collect a drug debt owed them. In delivering today’s verdict, Chief Judge Burgess said Quintana’s behavior was incredible that day.

“Illegal narcotics are a cancerous growth in our society and many communities in Southeast Alaska have suffered from the epidemic for years,” said Acting US Attorney Bryan Wilson of the District of Alaska. “The violence committed in this case has rocked the Sitka community and is one of the worst drug crimes to have occurred in Southeast Alaska in recent decades.”

“The defendant came to Alaska for the sole financial reason of illicit drug trafficking,” said Antony Jung, a special agent in charge of the FBI’s Anchorage Field Office. “Drug traffickers who believe they can operate with impunity while bringing poison and violence to Alaska’s communities will be held accountable by the FBI and our local, state, state, and tribal law enforcement partners.”

“The audacity of Quintana’s actions clearly justifies this significant judgment,” said Matthew Olson, acting special agent for the ATF Seattle Field Division. “She completely disregarded the law and endangered the community as a whole. Removing Quintana and her co-conspirators from the streets will help make our communities safer. ”

Quintana’s co-conspirators also pleaded guilty and were convicted:

• Andrea Avalos, aka “Josie,” 25, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy charges and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
• Peter Krovina, aka “Lil ‘Pete”, 42, of Sitka pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy charges and was sentenced to 15 years in prison for drug trafficking and possession of guns.
• Holly Chambers, 28, of Sitka pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy charges and received a prison sentence.
• Aaron Didrickson, 32, of Sitka, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy charges and received a prison sentence.
• Eric Morisky, aka “Curly,” 33, of Juneau pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy charges and was sentenced to 50 months in prison for drug trafficking.
• Porter Treadway, 39, of Sitka pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy charges and is due to be sentenced in January 2022.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Sitka Police Department, with assistance from the US Marshals Service (USMS), are investigating the case.

U.S. Assistant Attorney Jack Schmidt is pursuing the case.

This case is part of an ongoing effort by the U.S. Attorney General’s District of Alaska Rural Alaska Anti-Violence Enforcement Network (RAAVEN) to increase public safety engagement, coordination, and action in Alaska’s indigenous communities. The case is also part of the Alaska’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program and the South East Alaska Cities Against Drugs (SEACAD) Task Force. HIDTA was founded in 2018 to enhance and coordinate local state and federal law enforcement efforts and provide equipment, technology and additional resources to combat drug trafficking and its harmful effects in critical regions of Alaska.

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