UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Jay Franklin VOUGHT, Defendant-Appellant

BACKGROUND

For almost three years, until his arrest in December 1993, Jay Franklin Yought was involved in a cocaine distribution ring in Alaska, conducting the operation with the help of at least seven other individuals.

Although he was arrested and briefly jailed in early 1993 for a parole violation, Vought continued to direct the cocaine operation through Deanna Maurer. While Vought was still in jail, Maurer attempted to withdraw from the drug operation, following a police raid on her apartment. The district court found that Vought used threats and violence to induce Maurer’s continued participation in the operation, however.

Vought was released from jail on September 2, 1993 as part of an agreement in which he was to assist state law enforcement authorities in an investigation of other drug dealers. Despite this cooperation agreement, Vought proceeded to rebuild his own drug business.

In December 1993, Vought’s parole officers received information that Vought was dealing drugs and engaging in other conduct that constituted violations of his parole. Law enforcement authorities had received similar information and had begun a separate investigation into Vought’s activities.…