Fairbanks Dealer Adepoju Gets 68 Months

ANCHORAGE, AK – Abdul Karim Oluwafemi Adepoju, 33, of Fairbanks, is headed to federal prison after receiving a 68-month sentence Friday, April 26, for dealing drugs. U.S. District Judge Ralph R. Beistline also tacked on five years of supervised release following Adepoju’s incarceration. The sentencing follows Adepoju’s January 2019 guilty plea to one count of distribution of a controlled substance – a charge stemming from a brazen encounter with Alaska State Troopers.

The trouble began September 29, 2018, when troopers arrived at a North Pole, Alaska residence to serve outstanding warrants for probation and parole violations against Adepoju. They found him behind the wheel of a green Mitsubishi, and quickly confirmed his presence inside the property. Adepoju, however, wasn’t interested in cooperating. He initially provided a false name – that of his brother – in a pathetic attempt to mislead law enforcement.

As the trooper radioed in Adepoju’s arrest, the defendant made a desperate play, flinging a package from his jacket toward the rear of the patrol vehicle. A search of Adepoju revealed $2,791 in cash stuffed in his pockets. The item tossed towards the vehicle? A gallon-sized Ziplock bag brimming with drugs. Adepoju immediately denied ownership, and attempted to flee, grabbing the bag from the patrol car and sprinting away.

A foot chase ensued, ending with the trooper wrestling Adepoju to the ground. Even in handcuffs, Adepoju continued to struggle, repeatedly trying to break free. A thorough search then uncovered a set of keys to the green Mitsubishi. A subsequent court-authorized search of the vehicle revealed a black zip-up case on the passenger seat, containing even more drugs intended for distribution, along with a digital scale – the tools of a seasoned dealer.

The Ziplock bag seized during the initial struggle proved to be a cocktail of misery: nine smaller bags containing methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin. The investigation, a joint effort by the Alaska State Troopers (AST) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), clearly established Adepoju’s involvement in the illegal drug trade.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Charisse Arce successfully prosecuted the case, securing a substantial sentence for Adepoju. The 68-month prison term sends a clear message: dealing poison in Alaska comes with a hefty price. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on those who prey on our communities.