Press Release

Anchorage Felon Convicted of Heroin Distribution

November 24, 2015

The lengthy investigation and prosecution of 59 year old William Patrick is one step closer to its conclusion. Anchorage Superior Court Judge Jack Smith convicted of misconduct involving a weapon in the third degree. This conviction is in addition to his previous convictions for heroin and marijuana distribution from earlier in the summer.

The Anchorage Police Department led the extensive investigation of William Patrick, his two sons, Jared Patrick and John Patrick, and four accomplices. After investigating the drug ring for several months, law enforcement officers from the Anchorage Police Department, the Alaska State Troopers, the Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Internal Revenue Service raided numerous residences in January 2013, which broke up the Patricks’ drug distribution enterprise.

In William Patrick’s residence, officers seized nearly nine ounces of heroin, as well as marijuana, over $7,000 in cash, two guns, and various drug paraphernalia. Officers also seized the Patricks’ vehicles and over $120,000 in cash from the Patricks’ safety deposit boxes. Officers pieced together Patrick’s heroin distribution network which relied on using others to smuggle heroin into Alaska from California. An experienced narcotics detective testified that the amount of heroin seized from William Patrick’s residence is among the largest he has seen. The heroin could be divided into about 2,500 doses and sold for more than $120,000 on the street.

Because Patrick has a prior drug felony conviction, his presumptive sentencing range for the heroin distribution conviction is 10 to 14 years. Patrick could be sentenced up to 20 years for the heroin conviction and up to five years for the other convictions. With the convictions of William Patrick, the patriarch of the distribution ring, all seven co-defendants have now been convicted.

Patrick was remanded to the custody of the Department of Corrections without bail pending a consolidated sentencing hearing for all of his convictions. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 8, 2016 before Judge Smith.

CONTACT: Assistant District Attorney Michal Stryszak @ (907) 269-6300 or michal.stryszak@alaska.gov at the Anchorage District Attorney’s Office.

# # #

Department Media Contacts: Communications Director Patty Sullivan at patty.sullivan@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6368. Information Officer Sam Curtis at sam.curtis@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6269.