A 66-year-old Craig man is facing a federal drug conspiracy charge for allegedly possessing and intending to distribute half a pound of methamphetamine that was mailed to his post office box, concealed inside a box of mothballs.
John Roger Cessnun was arrested at his home in Craig on Halloween and was arraigned Tuesday in Juneau federal court. He pled not guilty to the charges through a court-appointed attorney.
Authorities intercepted the package and conducted a controlled delivery of the drugs on Oct. 31, leading to Cessnun’s arrest, according to charging court documents.
U.S. Postal Inspector Jacob Gholson wrote in an affidavit that a priority mail package — addressed to Cessnun from an address in Willamina, Oregon — was identified as suspicious when it arrived at the Craig post office in late October.
Authorities obtained a search warrant and found approximately 226 grams of a white crystal substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine. The drugs were packaged in two small, vacuum-sealed baggies inside an Enoz Mothball box, the affidavit states. Also inside the package were plastic eyeballs for Halloween, crackers, ramen and other food stuff.
Law enforcement officers removed most the drugs, leaving only a small representative sample in the package, for the controlled delivery. Cessnun picked up the package at the post office on Halloween and was arrested later that day at his house in the 700 block of Shaan Seet Trailer Court, court documents say.
“When officers entered the residence, law enforcement officers saw Cessnun holding the subject parcel,” Gholson wrote in the affidavit.
It’s a federal crime to possess, with intent to distribute, 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. The felony offense carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and could carry up to 40 years. It also has a minimum probation period of four years, and can also be punishable by up to a $5 million fine.
Federal prosecutors are also seeking forfeiture of some of Cessnun’s property that may have been used in the crime or purchased with drug proceeds. The listed items include $7,547 in drug money, gold and silver coins, gold and silver leaf bills, his truck and 20 firearms.
Cessnun on Tuesday waived his right to an indictment and remains in custody. His attorney, Jamie McGrady of the Federal Public Defender’s Agency, signalled she may request a bail hearing in the near future. A trial date has not yet been set.
Craig is located on Prince of Wales Island, south of Juneau.
