L.A. Residents Charged in Darknet Drug Ring that Shipped Meth to Buyers Overseas

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Three L.A. Residents Charged in Darknet Drug Ring that Allegedly Shipped Methamphetamine to Buyers Around the World

LOS ANGELES – Three people accused of being part of an international drug trafficking ring are in custody on federal charges alleging they used the Darknet to obtain drugs and offer narcotics for sale, and then shipped pound quantities of methamphetamine to buyers in the Philippines, New Zealand, Poland and other foreign destinations.

An eight-count indictment returned on March 22 by a federal grand jury charges the three defendants with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and substantive drug trafficking offenses. The defendants are:

  • Michael Alan Goldberg, 34, of Panorama City, who allegedly directed the conspiracy, even after being taken into federal custody in June 2018;
  • Donnica Mae Rabulan, 31, of Panorama City; who is Goldberg’s wife, and
  • James Caleb Kueker, 41, of the Hollywood Hills.

Rabulan, who in addition to the conspiracy charge faces four counts of distributing methamphetamine, was arraigned Monday afternoon in United States District Court. Kueker, who also is charged with one count of possession with the intent to distribute ketamine, as well as with one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, was also arraigned on Monday. Rabulan and Kueker each entered not guilty pleas and were ordered to stand trial on June 4.

Goldberg, who also faces one count of intentionally distributing methamphetamine, is scheduled to be arraigned on April 8.

The eight-count indictment followed a criminal complaint filed on March 1 that outlined how the three defendants used the Darknet to purchase narcotics with cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin, and then made 59 shipments of methamphetamine and other illegal drugs to international buyers. During the course of the alleged conspiracy, Goldberg was arrested on an unrelated fraud case and was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison on that matter.

In May 2018, one shipping company security manager in Van Nuys contacted federal law enforcement about seven parcels destined for the Philippines that were suspected of containing controlled substances, according to the affidavit in support of the complaint. The seven packages cumulatively contained nearly 21 kilograms of methamphetamine, and had contact information with telephone numbers linked to Goldberg, the affidavit states.

The indictment alleges that Rabulan shipped methamphetamine to international buyers, while Kueker collected tens of thousands of dollars in illicit proceeds from the sales on Goldberg’s behalf.

Search warrants executed on March 11 led to the discovery of suspected drug labs at Kueker’s homes in the Hollywood Hills and Valley Village, as well as a loaded AK-47-style rifle in the bedroom of Kueker’s Hollywood Hills residence, court papers state. Federal agents also recovered more than $150,000 in suspected drug proceeds in a safe deposit box registered to Kueker, according to court documents. Three residents of the house were arrested and were charged in separate indictments alleging possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

If convicted on all counts, each defendant faces a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison. The conspiracy count carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. The count alleging firearm possession in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a five-year mandatory minimum prison sentence.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Secret Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Roger Hsieh and Ian Yanniello of the General Crimes Section and Special Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Waters of the Asset Forfeiture Section.