Press Release

Petersburg woman convicted of importing methamphetamine

May 24, 2019

(Petersburg, AK) — On May 24, 2019 a jury found 50 year old Helen Olson, guilty, for importing 51 grams of methamphetamine into Alaska for sale in Petersburg. Ms. Olson was convicted of Misconduct Involving a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree.

The conviction stems from a March 2018 investigation involving the Petersburg Police Department, Juneau Police Department, law enforcement officials from the U.S. Coast Guard, and other federal agencies who intercepted a package being sent from San Diego, California to Helen Olson in Petersburg. A canine alerted on the package indicating the presence of drugs. Officers searched the parcel pursuant to a court order and found methamphetamine inside. Olson later picked up the package of methamphetamine from the Petersburg post office.

Officers served a search warrant on Olson’s residence where they found the methamphetamine package with the shipping label torn off. Additionally officers found smaller baggies containing a crystalline substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine within the residence.
Helen Olson is scheduled to be sentenced on August 27, 2019. Olson faces a sentencing range of zero to 10 years in prison for this class B felony conviction. She has no prior convictions.

This conviction resulted from the prompt investigation and cooperation between local police and federal agencies. The Office of Special Prosecutions successfully prosecuted this drug importation case in Petersburg, Alaska.

CONTACT: Assistant Attorney General Katholyn Runnels at (907) 269-6250.

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Department Media Contacts: Communications Director Patty Sullivan at patty.sullivan@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6368. Information Officer Sam Curtis at sam.curtis@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6269.