Faces up to 30 years incarceration for gun and drug possession at local casino
CHARLESTON, W.Va.-A Charleston man pled guilty to federal drug and gun charges, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Michael A. Parker, 37, pled guilty to possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, and to being a felon in possession of a firearm. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 8, 2019 and faces up to 30 years in prison. Parker also agreed to forfeit the firearm and $14,225.87 cash that was recovered from the scene. Stuart commended the investigation by the Nitro Police Department, assisted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory and Mardi Gras Casino Security.
“Cocaine, a firearm, lots of cash and running from police," said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “Parker evidently didn’t learn anything from his previous federal drug conviction and needs to go back and try again."
Parker admitted that on July 28, 2018 at 5:00a.m., he had driven to the Mardi Gras Casino in Nitro, West Virginia. He double-parked the car he was driving and went into the casino. Casino security noticed the double-parked car and also saw a gun on the floorboard of the car. Casino security contacted the Nitro Police to get their assistance in asking Parker to move his car. Parker initially agreed to move the car and offered to meet the police outside. Instead, Parker walked out a different door of the casino, fled into the woods near the casino, and hid. Casino security workers monitored Parker’s flight with security cameras and relayed this information to the Nitro Police. Parker was quickly located and eventually agreed to return to his car. Once there, Parker agreed to unlock his car and the police recovered the gun. While securing the firearm, the Nitro Police officer immediately noticed a quantity of cocaine and a large stack of cash in the car. Once this evidence was removed from the car, Parker fled a second time into the woods. He was eventually apprehended with the assistance of a K9 unit. Police recovered a large bag of cocaine, 5 smaller bags of cocaine, a bag of marijuana, $14,225.87 cash and a Smith and Wesson.380 caliber pistol with 11 rounds of ammunition and an extended magazine. Parker is a prior convicted felon, having a 2004 federal conviction of distribution of cocaine base and possession with the intent to deliver cocaine. Parker has not been pardoned or otherwise had his right to own a firearm restored. The ATF traced the firearm and concluded it had traveled in interstate commerce. The West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory tested the recovered drugs and confirmed that they were cocaine and marijuana, both controlled substances.
Assistant United States Attorneys Erik S. Goes and Kristin Scott are handling the prosecution. Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the plea hearing.
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Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
