NIAGARA FALLS, NY – A Niagara Falls father and son face a lifetime behind bars after a federal jury found them guilty of murdering Kevin Turner, a man allegedly involved in the local crack cocaine trade. Lavon Parks, aka “Dutch,” 32, and his father, James C. Parks, 58, were convicted on multiple counts relating to both the killing and a sprawling drug conspiracy that stretched across several states.
The jury heard evidence detailing how, on the afternoon of January 21, 2018, Turner was gunned down in front of a Niagara Street residence. Turner had recently relocated from Buffalo and was reportedly preparing to sell crack cocaine at the location. Witnesses and video evidence placed a truck registered to Lavon Parks’ then-girlfriend in the vicinity both before and after the shooting. The Parks were allegedly “driving around the area…apparently looking for someone” before the murder.
While the murder weapon wasn’t immediately linked to the Parks, ballistics analysis proved the firearm used to kill Turner matched one illegally trafficked from Pittsburgh. A key witness testified that Lavon Parks purchased the weapon – along with at least seven others – in exchange for drugs. This connection solidified the government’s argument that the shooting was directly tied to the ongoing drug conspiracy.
The investigation, a collaborative effort between multiple federal agencies and the Niagara Falls Police Department, uncovered a sophisticated operation that moved approximately 8.5 kilograms of cocaine and $52,000 in cash. Postal parcels shipped between Puerto Rico and locations across the country – including New York, Florida, Alaska, Georgia, and Pennsylvania – were identified as conduits for the drugs and money. Authorities also traced $55,700 in payments sent from co-conspirators in Puerto Rico, completing the cycle of illicit trade.
Lavon Parks faces the more severe penalties, convicted of narcotics conspiracy, discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, discharge of a firearm causing death, attempt to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Both father and son now face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, with a maximum sentence of life, and a potential fine of $250,000.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 26 for Lavon Parks and June 27 for James Parks, both before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. The Parks’ conviction represents a significant blow to drug trafficking in the Niagara Falls area and a grim warning to those who resort to violence to protect their criminal enterprises.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Organized Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Press Release
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