Anchorage, Alaska – Acting United States Attorney Kevin Feldis announced today that an Anchorage man was sentenced in federal court in Anchorage to 60 months in prison for his conviction of possession of a controlled substance.

Ubaldo Elias Lopez, 27, was sentenced on September 29, 2010, by United States District Judge Timothy M. Burgess. On November 20, 2009, a federal jury found Lopez guilty of possession of five grams or more of crack cocaine.

According to information presented to the court by Special Assistant United States Attorney Erin White, the Anchorage Police Department initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Lopez on October 9, 2007. Though Lopez initially denied having a firearm, a search revealed a loaded 9mm semiautomatic pistol underneath the driver’s seat. After questioning, Lopez admitted that the firearm was his. A further search of the vehicle revealed rifle ammunition, a loaded .357 speed loader, a scale commonly used to weigh drugs, drug paraphernalia, ecstasy pills, power tools, and two Alaska Quest welfare credit cards belonging to people unrelated to Lopez. He was placed in custody for violating conditions of his release for an unrelated drug charge filed by the State of Alaska. At the Anchorage jail, a corrections officer found 12 grams of crack cocaine in Lopez’ shoe.

Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Burgess stated that the evidence in the vehicle led him to believe that Lopez was selling drugs in order to support his own drug habit and using a firearm for self-protection due to his dangerous activities. Judge Burgess noted that drugs and firearms are an extremely dangerous combination.

Mr. Feldis commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Anchorage Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Lopez. Ms. White is a prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office who is funded by the Municipality of Anchorage for the purpose of prosecuting gang-related and violent crime cases.

Return to Top