Anchorage Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Drug Conspiracy
| U.S. Attorney’s Office June 14, 2013 |
ANCHORAGE—U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that a man from Anchorage was sentenced in federal court in Anchorage for his role in an Anchorage and Fairbanks drug conspiracy.
Rock E. Phelps, II, 26, a/k/a “Skitzo Scoe,” from Anchorage, Alaska, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Ralph R. Beistline. Phelps received a sentence of 18 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Phelps had previously pled guilty to an indictment charging him and his co- conspirators with one count of drug conspiracy.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Cavanaugh, who prosecuted the case, Phelps was a member of a drug trafficking organization in Anchorage and Fairbanks that between 2009 and February 2012, sold powder cocaine, marijuana, and oxycodone pills in Anchorage and Fairbanks. Phelps sold cocaine in Anchorage. On four occasions in February 2011, Phelps sold cocaine to a confidential informant; he possessed 70 grams of cocaine in his residence that he intended to distribute and possessed a firearm. Phelps also facilitated the sale of cocaine between another individual and his co-conspirator DeMarr Moultrie.
Phelps and other members of the conspiracy attempted to conceal their drug trafficking by claiming they were involved in a legitimate business, specifically that they were “artists,” employees, or promoters of concerts. Members of this conspiracy would record rap and hip hop songs, post videos on Youtube.com, and perform local shows in Anchorage and Fairbanks. Much of their music glorified the lifestyle of selling illegal narcotics and committing other crimes. The lavish and extravagant lifestyle portrayed in their music and videos was supported by their sales of illegal narcotics. Phelps had no record of serious or consistent employment since dropping out of high school in 2005 and only received minor, nominal payments for work as a rap recording and performance artist. The main source of his income since dropping out of high school was from the distribution of illegal narcotics in Anchorage.
Prior to imposing a sentence, Judge Beistline informed the defendant he had to take responsibility for his own actions and he needed to find some better individuals to associate with in the future.
Phelps was indicted along with 13 other members of the conspiracy located in Anchorage and Fairbanks. Christopher Anderson was previously sentenced to 14 months prison on November 2, 2012; DeMarr Moultrie was sentenced to 40 months prison on May 1, 2013; Jeraelyn Hill was sentenced to 66 months prison on May 28, 2013; and Jerry Wormley was sentenced to 36 months prison on May 31, 2013.
Donnell Johnson, Joshua Mustovich, Mihla Hall, Antonio Fleming, Dalon Johnson, Tevoris Carter, Emma Shine, and Brent Gunnels have pled guilty for their roles in connection with the conspiracy and await sentencing. Terrance Fleming has a pending trial scheduled for August 2013.
Ms. Loeffler commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, and the Anchorage Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Phelps.