A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment this week charging three Kodiak residents with drug trafficking crimes in Alaska, including distributing fentanyl, which resulted in a fatal overdose.
According to court documents, between Feb. 2022 and Jul. 2023, 37-year-old Ashley Katelnikoff and 37-year-old Gerry Pugal allegedly conspired together to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl and over 500 grams of a mixture containing methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine.
Court documents further allege that on or about Aug. 25-26, 2022, Katelnikoff distributed fentanyl as part of the conspiracy, which resulted in the death of a victim.
The indictment also alleges that between Nov. 21-29, 2022, Pugal and 32-year-old Kalani Coyle attempted to possess with intent to distribute over 400 grams of a fentanyl mixture and over 50 grams of a mixture containing methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine.
Katelnikoff is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances resulting in death and one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.
Pugal is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances resulting in death and one count of attempted possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.
Coyle is charged with one count of attempted possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.
The defendants will make their initial court appearance on a later date before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, Katelnikoff and Pugal face between 20 years to life in prison, and Coyle faces 10 years to life in prison.
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge David Reames of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Seattle Division Office made the announcement.
The DEA Seattle Division Office and Anchorage District Office, with significant assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Anchorage Domicile, IRS Criminal Investigation Seattle Field Office, Alaska State Troopers, and the Kodiak Police Department, are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alana Weber, Chris Schroeder, and Stephan Collins are prosecuting the case.