Federal prosecutors indicted Kyoung Seo (62), the owner of the Chelsea Inn Hotel in Anchorage, and Chantel Fields (36), a hotel employee, on charges of conspiracy to use the hotel for drug trafficking. Authorities said the property had served as a base for narcotics distribution since at least October 2020.
The August 22 raid was described as the first hotel-related drug trafficking seizure in Alaska’s history and the largest of its kind. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for Alaska, the FBI, and the Anchorage Police Department led the operation, sending multiple teams to simultaneously raid the Chelsea Inn Hotel along with the South Anchorage residences of Seo and Fields.
Investigators seized 11 firearms—some reported stolen—over 1,000 rounds of ammunition, more than a pound of suspected narcotics including fentanyl, and $45,000 in cash believed to be proceeds of criminal activity.
According to prosecutors, Seo and Fields charged a $20 entry fee for those seeking drugs or prostitution at the hotel. Fields allegedly stored and distributed narcotics on the property and directed buyers to drug dealers staying there. Employees acted as gatekeepers, controlling access to the building.
The 40-room Chelsea Inn had long been notorious in Anchorage as a crime hub. Police logged more than 1,000 calls for service at the hotel since 2020, including violent crimes. In October 2020, Duane Fields, a former employee and the father of Chantel Fields, was murdered there. Court filings state that security footage showed Chantel Fields removing guns and suspected drugs from her father’s body before officers arrived.
The Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Anchorage said about 7,000 Korean Americans live in Alaska, primarily in Anchorage. The Chelsea Inn, located two miles east of Anchorage International Airport, was widely regarded as a problem property. Rakhi Kim, who runs Alaska Korean Tours nearby, said, “Even Korean Americans in the area were abuzz with news of the raid.”
The U.S. Marshals Service has seized the property under civil asset forfeiture, allowing the government to take control regardless of a criminal conviction. A sign reading “U.S. Government Seized Property” was posted at the entrance, and windows were boarded up.
U.S. Attorney for Alaska Michael Heyman said the raid was part of “Operation Take Back America,” a nationwide campaign targeting cartel activity. He called it “a strong signal to block cartel activity and protect the community” and said more arrests are expected.
Seo and Fields remain in custody at the Anchorage Correctional Complex. If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison. The investigation involves the FBI, Anchorage Police Department, IRS, DEA, U.S. Marshals, Postal Inspection Service, ATF, and Department of Homeland Security.
