Franks Gets 11 Years: AK Drug & Gun Trafficker Sentenced

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Joseph Franks, 42, of Anchorage, is trading Alaskan scenery for federal prison walls after receiving an 11-year sentence yesterday for a cocktail of drug and firearm offenses. The sentence, handed down by a federal judge, also includes four years of supervised release following his incarceration.

The trouble began on January 28, 2021, when law enforcement discovered Franks dozing off in the driver’s seat of a running tow truck near Big Lake. Already wanted on an outstanding warrant, Franks’ arrest quickly escalated. A search of his person revealed a loaded pistol magazine. A subsequent search of the tow truck uncovered a disturbing cache: two stolen pistols, six additional pistol magazines, and over 300 grams of marijuana. But the haul didn’t stop there – a safe hidden within the vehicle contained over 60 grams of heroin and the tools of a drug distributor.

Less than a week later, Franks decided to add reckless endangerment to his rap sheet. When law enforcement attempted a traffic stop in Wasilla, he bolted, initiating a high-speed chase that stretched for miles. Spike strips finally brought the vehicle to a halt, but Franks wasn’t going down without a fight. He shattered the driver’s side window and attempted to flee on foot, only to be quickly apprehended by a K9 unit. A search of Franks revealed $1,770 in cash and a container of cocaine. The vehicle’s trunk yielded an even more substantial stash: $3,550 in cash, over 61 grams of marijuana, over 35 grams of methamphetamine, over 85 grams of heroin, and smaller amounts of psilocybin and cocaine.

“Mr. Franks repeatedly disregarded the law and endangered the community with his criminal conduct,” stated U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to pursue justice against defendants who choose to commit criminal acts, especially activity that puts our communities at risk like firearm and drug trafficking offenses.” The message is clear: Alaska’s federal prosecutors aren’t playing games when it comes to violent offenders flooding the state with drugs and weapons.

Rebecca Day, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Anchorage Field Office, echoed that sentiment. “The defendant continued to plague our community with serious crimes involving drugs, stolen firearms, and reckless flight from law enforcement,” she said. “This sentence, stemming from a joint investigation with the Alaska State Troopers, exemplifies our shared commitment in keeping our communities safe.” Captain Cornelius Sims of the Alaska State Trooper’s Statewide Drug Enforcement Unit added, “The sentence handed down in this prosecution is a significant victory in the Alaska State Trooper’s fight against drug trafficking occurring across the State of Alaska.”

The case was a collaborative effort between the FBI Anchorage Field Office and the Alaska State Troopers, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Ivers and Alana Weber handling the prosecution. Franks’ 11-year sentence serves as a stark reminder that the feds are watching, and those who traffic drugs and firearms in Alaska will face serious consequences. This bust is just one piece of a larger, ongoing effort to stem the tide of illegal activity in the state.