Stolen guns, some tied to shootings, recovered in major Alaska firearms and narcotics operation

An operation coordinated by multiple law enforcement agencies recovered 82 illegal firearms, many stolen and some connected to shootings throughout the Anchorage area, Alaska’s U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder said Wednesday.

“Some of these were were in possession of felons, a number of them were stolen and others have been alleged to have facilitated drug trafficking activities,” he told reporters at the federal courthouse in downtown Anchorage. “To our memory, this is the largest seizure of firearms we’ve made in a federal operation here in Alaska.”

Sixteen people are facing federal firearm and drug trafficking charges through the “Operation Cold Snap” investigations, although Schroder said three have yet to be arrested. Many of the people arrested are repeat offenders, he said. There are 10 indictments and Schroder said the cases are not related, although some of the defendants may be known to each other.

The Anchorage field office of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated firearms and narcotics traffickers in Anchorage and surrounding areas during the last few months. Investigators served search warrants that led to the seizure of 82 total firearms, about a third of which had been reported stolen, Schroder said. Investigators also seized about 7 pounds of methamphetamine and over a half-pound of heroin.

“This operation clearly demonstrated the unfortunate reality, that drugs and firearms are linked as facilitators to violent crime,” he said. “The firearms you see here today were recovered during the operation were removed from the hands of criminals, making our neighborhoods safer.”

Darak Pleasants, a special agent from the ATF Seattle office, said some of the firearms have been linked to shootings in Anchorage. Investigators used a national ballistic network to connect the guns to other crimes. The investigation is ongoing and Pleasants did not provide details about which crimes the weapons were linked to.

The investigation came as part of a national program, Project Safe Neighborhoods, that aims to reduce violent crime. The Anchorage Police Department, Alaska State Troopers, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service, Anchorage Airport Police and Coast Guard Investigative Service assisted in the operation.

Three Anchorage residents facing charges as a result of the operation were still at large Wednesday afternoon, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. They are:

• Clay Millhouse, 34, is charged with conspiracy to possess and sell stolen firearms, possession of stolen firearms and being a felon in possession of firearms.

• Marcus Jones, 48, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

• Roxanne Reed, 37, is charged with distribution of a controlled substance and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office identified the others charged and arrested in the operation:

• Shad Rider-Sorden, 28, of Anchorage is charged with conspiracy to possess and sell stolen firearms and possession of stolen firearms.

• Michael Proctor, 34, of Anchorage is charged with distribution of methamphetamine, carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.

• Nathaniel Sofianos, 30, of Wasilla is charged with distribution of controlled substances, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking and being a felon in possession of firearms.

• Korina Thompson, 32, of Wasilla is charged with distribution of controlled substances, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking and being a felon in possession of firearms.

• Xenophon Xayamonty, 31, of Anchorage is charged with distribution of methamphetamine and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.

• Realann Odsigue, 27, of Anchorage is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.

• Rene Laxa, 26, of Anchorage is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine.

• Dorian Topps, 26, of Anchorage is charged with distribution of methamphetamine.

• Isaiah Cross, 27, of Anchorage is charged with distribution of methamphetamine.

• Kevin Glover, 37, of Anchorage is charged with distribution of methamphetamine.

• Christopher Poindexter, 34, of Anchorage is charged with distribution of a controlled substance and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.

• Dana Dwyer, 43, of Wasilla is charged with being a felon in possession of firearms.

• Lanyegia Davis, 29, of Anchorage is charged with distribution of heroin.