Washington Woman Sentenced to Over a Year in Prison for Involvement in Alaska Drug Trafficking Scheme

In Anchorage, Alaska, a woman from Washington named Erika Rene Willers, aged 29, was sentenced on Thursday to one year and a day in federal prison. This sentence is a result of her involvement in a significant conspiracy that involved the distribution of fentanyl, cocaine, and other illegal substances into Alaska. Willers had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

In addition to her prison sentence, Willers was given three years of supervised release by the U.S. District Court in Anchorage. Federal prosecutors identified her as a crucial supplier for the drug trafficking organization and highlighted her collaboration with alleged ringleader Aaron Wayne Washington. Court documents reveal that between March 2024 and March 2025, Willers provided over 2,500 grams of fentanyl and around 13 grams of cocaine. Investigators noted various instances of drug courier activities arranged by Willers, including a February 2025 incident where co-defendant Kenneth DeGroff was sent to Seattle with $24,000 to acquire about 850 grams of fentanyl from her. In March 2025, authorities intercepted Washington’s luggage at Anchorage International Airport, which contained nearly 1,500 grams of fentanyl with a shipping label that had Willers’ name.