Two Anchorage residents were arrested following a federal grand jury indictment alleging they conspired to maintain a drug-involved premise at the Chelsea Inn Hotel (CIH) in Anchorage. The arrests were announced by U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska, FBI Anchorage Field Office Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day, Anchorage Police Chief Sean Case, and Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal John Olson during a press conference at the James M. Fitzgerald U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building.
Court documents state that starting in October 2020, Kyoung Seo, 62, an owner of CIH, and Chantel Fields, 36, allegedly worked together and with others to operate the hotel for distributing and using controlled substances. The FBI and Anchorage Police Department began investigating after receiving reports of drug trafficking involving people residing at or frequenting the hotel.
According to allegations in court documents, Fields used the hotel to store and distribute drugs, directed buyers to dealers living on-site, and managed access to the property. It is further alleged that both Fields and Seo enforced a $20 “door fee” for visitors.
Since 2020, law enforcement conducted several investigations at CIH. In February 2025, a search warrant execution led to the seizure of nine firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and over 1.2 kilograms of suspected controlled substances.
Records from APD indicate more than 1,000 emergency calls for service to CIH since 2020. These calls included responses to violent crimes, domestic disputes, drug offenses such as homicides, and fatal or non-fatal overdoses.
On August 22nd, law enforcement executed search warrants at three locations: CIH and two residences. Authorities seized 11 firearms—including two behind the front desk—thousands of rounds of ammunition, large amounts of suspected controlled substances, and about $45,000.
The FBI also executed a seizure warrant for the CIH property on Friday. The U.S. Marshals Service took custody of the building to halt alleged drug trafficking activities there.
Seo and Fields face one count each of conspiracy to maintain a drug-involved premises. Their initial court appearances are scheduled before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the District of Alaska at a later date. If convicted, they could face up to 20 years in prison; sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge according to federal guidelines.
The case is being investigated by the FBI Anchorage Field Office Safe Streets Task Force and Anchorage Police Department with support from multiple agencies including IRS Criminal Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Marshals Service; APD High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Unit; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Homeland Security Investigations; and Alaska State Troopers.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cody Tirpak and Seth Beausang are prosecuting the case.
“This case is part of Operation Take Back America,” stated officials in reference to https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline , “a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime and drug trafficking.” According to officials: “Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).”
An indictment is an allegation only; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.
