CHATTANOOGA, TN – Jamaal Parker, a 38-year-old Chattanooga resident known on the streets as “MoneyMaal,” will spend the next 24 years and 2 months behind bars. Chief U.S. District Judge Travis R. McDonough handed down the 290-month sentence Friday for Parker’s role in a large-scale cocaine trafficking operation and related firearm charges. The conviction follows a two-day jury trial that laid bare Parker’s criminal enterprise.
Parker was found guilty in June of conspiracy to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack”), maintaining a drug house, and illegally possessing a firearm while engaged in drug trafficking. The charges stem from a months-long investigation that revealed Parker and his associates were funneling kilogram quantities of cocaine from Atlanta, Georgia, into Chattanooga, distributing the drugs from a Hoyt Street residence. He also faces forfeiture of $21,289.04 in cash, representing profits from the illegal operation.
The bust wasn’t a quiet one. In March 2019, law enforcement attempted to apprehend Parker, leading to a dangerous high-speed pursuit. When finally cornered, officers found Parker in possession of 4 kilograms of cocaine and a loaded firearm – clear evidence, prosecutors argued, of his intent to protect his drug supply with violence. The chase and subsequent seizure were critical in building the case against him.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III emphasized the collaborative nature of the investigation. “This investigation and prosecution were the result of a collaborative effort by federal, state, and local law enforcement,” he stated. “The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to target dangerous drug traffickers and stop the flow of illegal drugs into our communities.” DEA Special Agent in Charge Todd Scott added, “This case shows that people like Mr. Parker…will eventually meet justice.”
The case was spearheaded by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), a multi-agency initiative designed to dismantle major drug trafficking networks. Participating agencies included the DEA (Chattanooga and Atlanta divisions), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Chattanooga Field Office, the Chattanooga Police Department, and the Georgia State Patrol, along with numerous agencies from the Appalachia HIDTA Task Force. The sheer number of agencies involved underscores the scope of Parker’s operation and the resources required to bring him down.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin T. Brown and Scott Winne secured the conviction and sentencing. Parker will also be subject to five years of supervised release following his imprisonment. While 290 months won’t erase the damage Parker inflicted on Chattanooga, it sends a clear message: dealing poison and flaunting firearms won’t pay. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the ongoing efforts to clean up the streets.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Press Release
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