A Kalamazoo man, Rocky Parker, 48, has been handed a hefty 20-year prison sentence for his role in funneling methamphetamine from other states into Michigan, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten announced Thursday. Parker, identified by officials as a large-scale meth dealer, was caught after tips triggered an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team (KVET).
According to court documents obtained by FOX 2 Detroit, Parker made trips to Phoenix and Las Vegas in June and July of last year to connect with suppliers. The meth acquired was then shipped back to Kalamazoo. During the investigation, authorities seized 1.3 kilograms of meth from a package destined for Parker, and, another 1.4 kilograms were discovered across six transactions.
The situation escalated at the end of July when Parker attempted to make a third trip for more meth. He was apprehended by police in Berrien County on August 1, 2023, during which, he attempted to dispose of a black duffle bag containing an additional 1.3 kilograms of meth by throwing it out the passenger window of his vehicle. In a statement posted by The U.S. Department of Justice, Parker was charged with possession with intent to distribute the methamphetamine, an offense he pled guilty to on September 28, 2023.
Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene, highlighted the detrimental impact of such crimes, telling The Department of Justice, "Mr. Parker contributed to the addiction and poisoning of members of our community by distributing methamphetamine, a highly addictive and destructive illicit substance." He praised the multi-agency collaboration that led to Parker's conviction. Kalamazoo's Department of Public Safety, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Michigan State Police all played roles in the investigatory and prosecutorial efforts that brought Parker's drug trafficking operation to an end.
