A California man faces up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to attempting to possess cocaine in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Kenneth Kim Parks, 60, of Covina, California, entered the plea before United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy on March 19, 2021.
Parks was charged with one count of attempting to possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The charges stem from a federal search warrant executed by the United States Postal Service on a parcel sent from Puerto Rico on March 19, 2021. A Pennsylvania State Police laboratory confirmed that the parcel contained over 500 grams of cocaine.
Law enforcement replaced the cocaine with sham, a substance designed to look like cocaine, and prepared for a controlled delivery operation at the residence where the parcel was to be delivered in Troy Hill, Pennsylvania.
Surveillance observed Parks exit his rental vehicle, knock on the door of the residence, and interact with his cellular phone. After no one answered, Parks returned to his vehicle, which was parked in front of the residence.
Parks faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both. He is currently on bond pending sentencing, which is scheduled for May 25, 2023, at 9:30 am.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Related Federal Cases
- Morris Smith, Cocaine Trafficking, Pennsylvania 2024 · Puerto Rico
- Damien Hammonds, Cocaine Trafficking, Pennsylvania 2011 · Puerto Rico
- Lancaster Woman Sentenced 40 Months for Cocaine Conspiracy · Puerto Rico
- Michael Aponte, Cocaine Conspiracy, Omaha NE, 2021 · Puerto Rico
- Tremayne Carr, Cocaine Possession, Pennsylvania 2014 · Puerto Rico
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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