Three arrests were made in connection with a drug trafficking ring operating out of an East Anchorage nail parlor, according to the Anchorage Police Department.
Police say 44-year-old Toa Ly, a part-time resident of both Seattle and Anchorage, was running a drug trafficking operation from Fashion Nails, a salon he owned in a strip mall on Muldoon Road. Charging documents show at least two men worked for him: 36-year-old Pao Lee — also known as Ninja — and 43-year-old Murville Lampkin.
All three are facing drug trafficking charges in federal court, accused of dealing heroin and methamphetamine. Two of the men face money-laundering charges as well.
Authorities say the men made numerous drug sales to a police informant during their eight-month investigation. Some of the deals went down in the parking lot of the Carrs store on Debarr Road and outside the McDonald’s on Muldoon Road. Bank records show more than $300,000 was deposited into accounts in Ly’s name.
“This was all drug money,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Feldis. “Either the proceeds of drug sales or money that was going to be used to facilitate or purchase other drugs which were then going to be sold back here in Alaska.”
Police took the men into custody last week. They say both Lampkin and Lee had methamphetamine on them at the time of their arrest. Feldis says this was a “significant” amount of drugs that were seized. Lampkin is a former bouncer at the Rumrunners bar, who was found guilty last year of assaulting a customer.