California man sentenced to 6 years for trafficking oxycodone

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A California man was sentenced Tuesday to six years in federal prison for his role in an oxycodone distribution ring, following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Anwar Hasan, 69, of Oakland, California, acquired oxycodone pills in California then sold them to distributors in four states including Alaska, according to court records. Prosecutors say he then laundered more than $284,000 earned from the drug sales. Last August, Hasan pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder money and conspiracy to distribute oxycodone.

As part of his guilty plea, Hasan admitted acquiring oxycodone pills in California and then selling them to distributors in New York, New Jersey, California and Alaska. He further admitted recruiting others to distribute oxycodone in Alaska because of the higher value in the state. After Hasan’s distributors sold the oxycodone, they deposited the proceeds of their trafficking into a bank account maintained by Hasan. Between January and September 2010, Hasan received more than $284,000 in cash deposits to his bank account, despite earning just over $15,000 in declared income for the same year. Hasan admitted the money was proceeds from the sale of oxycodone.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska prosecuted the case.