Palmer couple sentenced on drug trafficking charges

ANCHORAGE – A Palmer couple received extensive prison time Thursday for their involvement in an extensive conspiracy to bring narcotics from the Lower 48 and distribute them in the Mat-Su Valley. The pair was sentenced in federal district court.

Appearing before US District Court Judge Sharon L. Gleason, 41-year-old Tod James Rodolph and 36-year-old Elizabeth Hopkins were sentenced to 12 and 6 1/2 years respectively. Additionally, Gleason ordered Rodoplh to pay a $30,000 fine in the drug trafficking case. According to Acting US attorney Bryan Schroeder, Rodolph previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, possession with intent to distribute, and one count of possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Hopkins previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute.

According to court documents, the federal Drug Enforcement Agency and Alaska State Troopers launched a Jan. 10, 2016, investigation after the methamphetamine overdose death of a 17-year-old male — identified as A.F. Court records state the teen consumed the narcotics at the couple’s home. Investigation revealed that the previous evening, a group of teens and young adults were consuming narcotics in the couple’s garage when A.F. became ill and displayed symptoms of an overdose. After being awakened by the teens, Rodolph did not make any efforts to call for medical help nor did he drive A.F. to the hospital due to unwanted police contact. By the time A.F. arrived to the hospital, he was already dead, court documents stated.

Law enforcement then began investigating Rodolph and Hopkins under suspicion they were distributing

narcotics out of their residence. According to Schroeder, while evidence did not indicate that Rodolph or Hopkins supplied the methamphetamine that ultimately lead to A.F.’s death, Rodolph was eventually found with large amounts of heroin and methamphetamine. He also admitted to taking numerous flights to Washington state to buy narcotics and bring them back to Alaska, court records stated.

Rodolph admitted that he had taken approximately 20 trips to Seattle and would return with 2-5 ounces of heroin each time. He further admitted to selling the drugs from his residence and that he kept firearms for protection from being robbed. Hopkins admitted to having full knowledge of the drug trafficking and stated she helped facilitate drug transactions.

Court records state that between January 2015 and March 24, 2016, Rodolph brought in at least 2,080 grams of heroin valued at $624,000. A search warrant of the residence revealed numerous items of drug paraphernalia, heroin, methamphetamine, scales, and firearms–all which were in plain view and accessible to their 15-year-old daughter.