A Soldotna man has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for distributing large quantities of heroin throughout the Kenai Peninsula.

Matthew Sean Bremond, 32, was sentenced on Jan. 15 by Sr. U.S. District Judge Ralph R. Beistline after pleading guilty in September of 2019 to one count of drug distribution, according to a Jan. 16 news release from the Department of Justice. Bremond’s sentence includes nine years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release.

Bremond was arrested after he sold large quantities of heroin — 126 grams and 96 grams in two instances — from his Soldotna residence in May of 2018, according to court documents. A search of Bremond’s house, storage units, and vehicle revealed further evidence of drug trafficking, including large quantities of firearms and cash, bulletproof vests and vehicles. Seven hundred grams of heroin and 40 grams of cocaine intended for distribution were seized from Bremond’s property, according to the news release.

On top of the sentence imposed, Bremond agreed to forfeit $101,173, two Polaris 800 snowmachines, one Xtreme utility trailer, a 2014 Raptor Ford F-150 truck, a 2008 Dodge Charger SRT sedan, a 2006 Nissan 350z coupe, 58 firearms, two bulletproof vests, two fully automatic modifications for handguns, two bump stocks and one silencer. Bremond agreed that these were proceeds from or used to facilitate his drug trafficking enterprise, according to the news release.

Beistline expressed concern at the sentencing hearing that “large scale” drug traffickers like Bremond were “destroying communities.”

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Alaska State Troopers and the Kenai Police Department conducted the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Cavanaugh of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska.