Nephew imprisoned for trying to take over meth trafficking

ANCHORAGE — Federal prosecutors say a 28-year-old Wasilla man who tried to take over his uncle’s methamphetamine trafficking business wound up with a 64-month prison term for his trouble.

According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Jeremy Locklear received his sentence Thursday, having pleaded no contest in April to one count of attempted possession of meth with the intent to distribute.

Locklear’s uncle was Ricky Alan Reese, formerly the owner of a pool hall in Wasilla.

He was busted in 2009 and convicted at trial in February 2011, after which he got a life sentence. Reese was one of four men rounded up in that investigation, which resulted in the seizure of 23 pounds of methamphetamines, which prosecutors said at the time was quite possibly the largest meth bust in Alaska history.

Reese’s ring brought the drugs into Alaska in pickups and SUVs being shipped north from Seattle.

The drugs came from Mexico. In addition to the meth, more than $10,000 and 16 guns were seized.

Locklear apparently became involved after Reese was locked up.

“After Reese’s conviction, Reese assisted Locklear to contact Reese’s former associates in an attempt to re-establish the flow of methamphetamine to Alaska from Reese’s Mexican source of supply,” according to the press release from the U.S. Attorney.

The press release says that Locklear negotiated over several months to receive drugs from a person he thought was Reese’s conduit.

“During this time, Locklear told the man that he would not be caught because he was extremely ‘careful’ in conducting drug business,” according to the press release.

Prosecutors say Locklear brought a $10,000 down payment to a meeting in March with someone he believed was an intermediary.

“At sentencing, (U.S. District Court) Judge (Ralph) Beistline remarked that the human toll of illicit drug trafficking was painful and substantial, both to the citizens of the United States and to those of Mexico. He further noted that Mr. Locklear had observed Ricky Reese’s entire jury trial and had apparently not been deterred by his uncle’s conviction from attempting to continue and further his drug trafficking operations,” according to the press release.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.