A Fairbanks man with a lengthy history of theft and criminal offenses has been indicted by a federal grand jury for distributing fentanyl that resulted in a fatal overdose earlier this year.
According to court filings, 25-year-old Jacob Ryan Peter allegedly supplied fentanyl to another individual in Fairbanks on March 3, 2025. The following day, that individual died from an apparent overdose.
Peter is charged with one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, a serious federal crime that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a potential maximum of life behind bars. He made his initial appearance this week before US Magistrate Judge Scott A. Oravec in the District of Alaska.
The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Seattle Division and Anchorage District Office, in coordination with the Alaska State Troopers and the Fairbanks Area Narcotics Team under the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program.
Court records show that Peter has a substantial criminal background in Alaska. In July, a Fairbanks grand jury indicted him in three separate theft cases following a probe by the Fairbanks Police Department’s Retail Theft Program:
- Fred Meyer (University Ave.) – On April 8, Peter stole 16 electronic devices worth nearly $4,000.
- Lowe’s – Over 2024 and 2025, he is suspected of stealing more than $20,000 in merchandise.
- Home Depot – Attempted to steal $7,539 in goods by bypassing checkout, but was stopped by the store’s asset protection team.
The US Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska is prosecuting the case. A sentencing date will be set if Peter is convicted.