Phoenix Man Sentenced to Nine Years for Methamphetamine Distribution on San Carlos Apache Reservation

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Eric Rope Jr., 41, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 108 months in prison. Rope previously pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

Rope’s conviction stems from a series of drug‑related incidents on the San Carlos Apache Reservation in early 2025. On Feb. 21, 2025, tribal police responded to an aggravated assault involving a victim who suffered significant injuries. During the investigation, officers recovered methamphetamine from Rope’s residence, and a weapon used in the assault in the bed of Rope’s truck. 

One week later, on Feb. 28, 2025, Rope contacted law enforcement to report multiple unresponsive individuals at a residence. Officers arrived to find four men in medical distress from drug overdoses; two of whom ultimately died. Investigators determined that Rope supplied drugs, including methamphetamine, to those individuals earlier that evening. One of the overdose victims also reported that Rope supplied him with a white powdery substance, which the victim thought was cocaine. After taking the substance, the victim immediately felt severe physical symptoms then became disoriented and soon lost consciousness. Ultimately, the overdose deaths could not be conclusively attributed to Rope’s drug distribution, but the incident was part of the conduct considered by the Court at sentencing. 

On Mar. 19, 2025, tribal police stopped Rope as he was driving from Phoenix to the San Carlos Apache Reservation. Rope briefly fled police before stopping in a remote area where his passenger ran into the desert carrying Rope’s backpack. Officers recovered the backpack, which contained more than 369 grams of methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and a pistol with an obliterated serial number. Law enforcement also recovered a second firearm from Rope’s vehicle. Rope was taken into tribal custody and later transferred to federal custody.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs in conjunction with San Carlos Apache Police Department conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:            25-CR-0990-PHX-SPL
RELEASE NUMBER:    2026-163_Rope

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