Richard Leroy Parker, Heroin Distribution, Iowa 2017
A Dubuque man has been convicted of distributing heroin that caused an overdose death in April 2017.
Richard Leroy Parker, 47, was convicted of distributing heroin within 1,000 feet of an elementary school and a playground, resulting in death, and also convicted of possession with intent to distribute heroin within 1,000 feet of an elementary school and a playground.
The indictment also alleged that Parker had distributed cocaine that resulted in death, but the jury found Parker not guilty of distributing cocaine.
The evidence at trial showed that Parker obtained several grams of heroin in Chicago in April 2017. On Easter Sunday, Parker brought the heroin to a residence in Dubuque. Parker and others at the residence drank alcohol and smoked crack cocaine throughout the day.
Prior to midnight, Parker and a woman went into a back bedroom. While inside the room, Parker gave the woman heroin, which she used. Shortly after using the heroin, E.M. stopped breathing. At approximately 12:20 a.m. on April 17, Parker called 911, and emergency responders arrived at the house.
Parker testified that, as emergency responders were attempting to save the woman’s life, he went into another room and hid the remaining heroin in a chair. Investigators later found this heroin. The attempts to resuscitate the woman were unsuccessful, and she was pronounced dead shortly after 1:15 a.m.
“Opioid abuse is at an all-time high in our country, and we all must do our part to combat it,” said United States Attorney Peter E. Deegan, Jr.
Parker remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Due to the fact that he has previously been convicted of four prior felony drug offenses, Parker faces a mandatory minimum sentence of life imprisonment, a $4,000,000 fine, $200 in special assessments, and at least 6 years of supervised release if he is released from imprisonment.
Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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