Second Anchorage Man Sentenced to 35 Years in Federal Prison for Kidnapping and Drug Trafficking
ANCHORAGE – A second Anchorage man was sentenced late yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason to 35 years in prison for kidnapping and drug trafficking.
According to court documents, Faamanu Vaifanua, aka “Junior,” 31, and his brother Macauther Christmas Vaifanua, aka “Mac,” 35, distributed heroin in the Anchorage area through the kidnapped victim between January 2015 and August 2017.
Believing that the victim had stolen drugs from them, Mac lured the victim to his home on August 13, 2017. As the victim was leaving the residence, he was led instead into the garage where he was forcibly bound and gagged. The victim was then beaten and tortured for nearly an hour by Junior and Mac and two other co-defendants in an assault that was captured on Mac’s home video surveillance system. The Vaifanua brothers and their co-defendants used an aluminum baseball bat, a metal broom stick and their hands and feet to beat the defendant into unconsciousness, causing severe injuries and permanent disability. After a certain point, believing that the victim was either dead or near death, they placed the victim inside a metal dog kennel while still bound and gagged.
The Vaifanua brothers and co-defendants then threatened a person in the area at gunpoint to back his pickup truck to the garage door. The group loaded the kennel into the back of the truck with the victim still in it. The driver was told at gunpoint to leave and never be seen again. After driving away from the area, the driver stopped to see what had been loaded into his truck. Upon seeing the victim, he immediately drove to a hospital emergency room where the victim received life-saving medical attention including brain surgery.
“Junior” Vaifanua pleaded guilty to federal kidnapping and drug trafficking charges in June 2021.
“This was a calculated act of savagery against another human being, not a random act of violence,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “The Vaifanua brothers will spend decades in federal prison for their complete disregard for human life. Drug dealers across the state should take note – vicious attacks will not be tolerated for any reason. My office is committed to working tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to ensure justice is served.”
“The defendant’s cruel disregard to human life and suffering is appalling,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Donald W. Lee II of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “When individuals, such as the defendant and his co-conspirators, threaten the safety of our neighborhoods and communities, they will be met with a certain justice.”
“The abuse suffered by the victim is heinous,” stated Anchorage Police Chief Michael Kerle. “The physical, emotional, and psychological effects of this magnitude of trauma are incomprehensible. It is our sincere hope today’s sentencing will aid in the victim’s life-long healing process.”
Co-defendants in this case include:
• Macauther Christmas Vaifanua, 35, aka “Mac” was sentenced to 50 years in federal prison on kidnapping and drug trafficking charges.
• Jeffrey Ahvan, 33, pleaded guilty to kidnapping in October 2019 and is awaiting sentencing.
• Rex Faumui, 28, pleaded guilty to kidnapping in October 2022 and is awaiting sentencing.
• Tamole Lauina, 25, was sentenced to seven years in prison on being an accessory after the fact charge.
The Anchorage Police Department (APD), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S Marshals Service (USMS) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephan A. Collins and Adam Alexander prosecuted the case.
8/12/21---12:30pm:
ANCHORAGE – An Anchorage man was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason to 50 years in prison for kidnapping and drug trafficking.
According to court documents, Macauther Christmas Vaifanua, 35, aka “Mac” and his brother, Faamanu Vaifanua, 31, aka “Junior” distributed heroin in the Anchorage area through the kidnapped victim between January 2015 and August 2017.
Believing that the victim had stolen from their residence, he was lured to Vaifanua’s home on August 13, 2017. As the victim was leaving the residence, he was led into the garage where he was forcibly bound and gagged. The victim was then beaten and tortured for nearly an hour by Vaifanua and his co-defendants in an assault that was captured on Vaifanua’s home video surveillance system. Vaifanua and his co-defendants used an aluminum baseball bat, a metal broom stick and their hands and feet to beat the defendant into unconsciousness, causing severe injuries and permanent disability. After a certain point, believing that the victim was either dead or near death, Vaifanua and his co-defendants then placed the victim inside a metal dog kennel while still bound and gagged.
Vaifanua and several of his co-defendants then threatened a person in the area at gunpoint to back his pickup truck to the garage door. The group loaded the kennel into the back of the truck with the victim still in it. The driver was told at gunpoint to leave and never be seen again. After driving away from the area, the driver stopped to see what had been loaded into his truck. Upon seeing the victim, he immediately drove to a hospital emergency room where the victim received life-saving medical attention including brain surgery.
Vaifanua pleaded guilty to federal kidnapping and drug trafficking charges in March 2020.
“This was not a random act of violence but a calculated act of savagery against another human being and a complete disregard for human life,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Wilson, District of Alaska. “Mr. Vaifanua will serve the next five decades in federal prison where there is no possibility of parole. The citizens of Alaska will not tolerate drug trafficking and the violence that is an integral part of that activity. We will work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to ensure justice is served.”
“Such brutality and indifference to human life is unacceptable,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Adam Pierce of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “This vicious assault and kidnapping were criminal acts that happened in a residential neighborhood, a place where Alaskans should feel safe. Know that the FBI and our partners on the Safe Streets Task Force will always be relentless in our efforts to identify, locate and apprehend dangerous offenders who threaten the safety of our communities.”
“Violent crime will not be tolerated,” said Chief Kenneth McCoy with the Anchorage Police Department. “This investigation highlights the strength of our federal partnerships to keep violent offenders off the street.”
Co-defendants in this case are “Junior” Vaifanua, 35, Jeffrey Ahvan, 33, Rex Faumui, 28, and Tamole Lauina, 25. They are currently in custody awaiting their separate hearings.
The Anchorage Police Department (APD), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephan A. Collins and Adam Alexander prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Update---10/2/18
From the U.S. Attorney's office:
Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced that five Anchorage residents have been indicted on federal kidnapping and drug trafficking charges, among other offenses, in connection with the August 2017 beating and placing of a victim into a dog kennel.
Macauther Christmas Vaifanua, 29, Faamanu Junior Vaifanua, 28, Jeffrey Jeremey Ahvan, 30, Rex Faiva Faumui, 25, and Tamole Tierra Pattijo Lauina, 22, all from Anchorage, were named in the recently unsealed federal indictment. Macauther and Faamanu Vaifanua have both been charged with kidnapping, drug trafficking conspiracy, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking conspiracy. Jeffrey Ahvan and Rex Faumui have been charged with kidnapping, and Lauina has been charged with being an accessory after the fact. All are currently in custody, and are expected to have their arraignment hearings scheduled for this week.
According to the federal indictment, between Jan. 1, 2015 and Aug. 15, 2017, Macauther Vaifanua and Faamanu Vaifanua allegedly conspired to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, quantities of heroin and methamphetamine, all while brandishing a firearm in furtherance of their drug trafficking activities. Furthermore, on Aug. 13, 2017, Macauther Vaifanua, Faamanu Vaifanua, Jeffrey Ahvan, and Rex Faumui allegedly kidnapped and severely assaulted “Victim A,” due to a conflict arising within their drug trafficking relationship and a disputed debt.
Specifically, as alleged in state court documents, on Aug. 13, 2017, the victim was lured into a garage where he was forcibly bound and gagged, and then severely beaten by an aluminum baseball bat, a broom stick, and stomps to the head. The victim was then put inside of a black metal dog kennel, while still bound and gagged. After threatening a person, at gunpoint, in the nearby area to back his pickup truck to the garage door, the four defendants then placed the kennel into the back of the truck, with the victim still inside the kennel. The driver was allegedly held at gunpoint and was told to leave and never be seen again. The victim was then dropped off at the hospital, where he was brought in for emergency treatment for fractures to his face and skull, which required brain surgery.
The federal indictment further alleges that Tamole Lauina provided aid and assistance to Macauther and Faamanu Vaifanua in order to prevent their arrest for the crimes alleged.
If convicted, the law provides a maximum sentence of life in prison and a fine of $250,000 for the kidnapping charge; a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $1 million for the drug trafficking conspiracy charge; a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years up to life in prison, and a fine of $250,000 for brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking conspiracy; and a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for being an accessory after the fact. Under the federal sentencing statutes, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.
The Anchorage Police Department (APD), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephan A. Collins and Adam Alexander.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Update--8/28/18—9:15 p.m.:
Rex Faumui has been arrested.
He called Dispatch this evening to turn himself in. Officers located him at the Anchorage Cemetery and arrested him without incident. He was questioned by detectives and transported to jail.
Update 8/27/18 9 a.m.:
On 8/26/18, officers with the Investigative Support Unit (ISU) received information that Faamanu “Junior” Vaifanua was in the area of Lake Otis Parkway and 88th Avenue. They responded that evening to a residence in the area and located him inside. The suspect attempted to flee from the residence and he was taken into custody. He was questioned by detectives from the Robbery/Assault Unit and transported to jail.
A few hours later, Macauther Vaifanua turned himself in at the Anchorage jail.
The search continues for Rex Faumui (see attached photo). He is considered armed and dangerous. The public should call APD immediately if seen and NOT attempt to make any contact with the suspect.
If you have any information on the whereabouts of Faumui, including surveillance video, please call 911. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 561-STOP or online at www.anchoragecrimestoppers.com.
Members of SWAT assisted in this investigation.
Update 6/1/18:
On May 31st around midnight, officers with the Investigative Support Unit (ISU) received information about Faamanu “Junior” Vaifanua. They responded to the 700 block of Bridgestone Court and discovered four people were helping hide Vaifanua and possibly the other suspects wanted in this investigation. ISU, along with officers from SWAT and the Patrol Division, arrested the four people.
The suspects have been identified as David Tiapula (29-years-old), Ann Tiapula (27-years-old), Crystal Sefo (28-years-old), and Salote Leuta (20-years-old). They each face a charge of Hindering Prosecution 1.
The search continues for Faamanu “Junior” Vaifanua, Macauther Vaifanua, and Rex Faumui (photos attached in order as stated).
They are considered armed and dangerous. The public should call APD immediately if seen and NOT attempt to make any contact with the suspects.
If you have any information on the whereabouts of the suspects-at-large, including surveillance video, please call 911. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 561-STOP or online at www.anchoragecrimestoppers.com.
Anyone else found aiding these wanted suspects will be held accountable.
Tamole Lauina is no longer wanted in this investigation.
APD Case: 18-21704 (Hindering Investigation)
Update 8/30/17:
FROM THE ANCHORAGE DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE:
On August 24, 2017, four men from Anchorage were indicted for attempting to kill a man and them placing him in a dog kennel on August 13, 2017.
The grand jury indicted 28 year old Faamanu “Junior” Vaifanua, 29 year old Macauther Christmas “Mac” Vaifanua, 29 year old Jeffrey Ahvan, and 24 year old Rex Faumui for attempted murder in the first degree, kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, assault in the first degree, robbery in the first degree, tampering with physical evidence, and hindering prosecution in the first degree. Faamanu Vaifanua, Ahvan, and Faumui were also indicted for misconduct involving a weapon in the third degree.
On August 13, 2017, Anchorage Police received a report that a man with serious physical injuries had been dropped off at Alaska Native Medical Center in a dog kennel. The investigation revealed that 34 year old Abshir Mohammed had been punched, kicked, and beaten with a broomstick and an aluminum bat in the garage of an East Anchorage residence. The incident is believed to have been captured on a residential video surveillance system. The man who dropped Mohammed off at the hospital is not believed to have been involved in the assault.
If convicted at trial, all four men face sentences of up to 99 years in prison for the Attempted Murder in the First Degree and Kidnapping charges. A defendant’s sentence is determined by the judge who must consider the circumstances of the offense, the impact on the victim and the community, and the potential for rehabilitation of the defendant. The charges in the indictment are only allegations and are not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the prosecution must prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Ahvan was apprehended on August 25, 2017 by the Anchorage Police Department.
Faamanu Vaifanua, Macauther Vaifanua, and Rex Faumui remain at large. Faumui was identified as the person-of-interest. Tamole Lauina also remains at large (photos attached in order as stated).
All four people are considered armed and dangerous. The public should call APD immediately if seen and NOT attempt to make any contact with the suspects.
Mohamed remains in critical condition at a hospital.
If you have any information, including surveillance video, regarding this investigation, please call APD Dispatch at 786-8900 (press “0” to speak with an operator). To remain anonymous you may contact Crime Stoppers at 561-STOP or online at www.anchoragecrimestoppers.com.
8/18/17:
The preliminary investigation found that Abshir Mohamed was kidnapped and taken to the 6500 block of Cimarron Circle where he was assaulted. Mohamed was last seen the afternoon of 8/13/17 by his girlfriend.
Between the time his girlfriend last saw him and the time he showed up at a hospital, Mohamed was bound and beaten inside the garage of a residence in the 6500 block of Cimarron Circle. He was then placed inside an animal cage, still bound, and dropped off at a local hospital. He was still inside the cage. The driver of the vehicle remained at the hospital and was questioned by officers.
Officers are looking for 4 suspects. Arrest warrants have been issued for the following (photos attached):
1)Macauther Vaifanua (28-years-old)
2)Faamanu Vaifanua (27-years-old)
3)Jeffery Ahvan (29-years-old)
4)Tamole Lauina (21-years-old)
The Vaifanuas and Ahvan are facing charges of Kidnapping and Assault 1.
Lauina is facing a charge of Kidnapping.
Officers are also looking for a 5th person. He's considered a person of interest in this investigation. He’s an adult male (photo attached) who was at the residence during the assault.
In addition to locating him, officers are looking for help identifying him.
Mohamed remains in critical condition at a hospital.
This was a targeted crime and not random.
Original:
On 8/13/17 at 5:43 p.m., a local hospital requested officers to the emergency room for a critically injured adult male.
Officers found that the victim had been assaulted.
Investigators are requesting the public’s help in determining the victim’s whereabouts prior to being dropped off at the hospital.
He’s been identified as Abshir Mohamed (24-years-old).
APD Case: 17-32659
