Alston Lamonte Parker, 39, has been sentenced to 15 years of federal prison time, after a successful joint operation between the Halifax County Sheriff's Office and the ATF led to the seizure of significant quantities of cocaine, marijuana, a firearm, and a large sum of cash. U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle expressed satisfaction with the outcome, remarking, "We will continue to focus on making Eastern North Carolina safer for the good citizens who proudly live there," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
Investigative activities leading up to the arrest of Parker, stretched over three years and culminated with the execution of two search warrants in Roanoke Rapids, on March 5, 2024. The properties, one on Zoo Road and another on New Hope Street, were identified as a narcotics stash house and a storehouse for drug proceeds, respectively. The operation netted a combined total of more than two kilograms of narcotics and over $24,000 in cash. Notably, a Springfield Armory, Model XDS 9mm pistol registered to someone in Virginia, was among the items seized from Parker's vehicle.
Parker's criminal record features a history of felony convictions related to drug offenses, including a 2010 conviction for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He was on federal supervised release for this offense when he committed his March 2024 violations. Parker's prior sentences reflect the enduring challenge that repeat offenders pose to law enforcement and the criminal justice system.
The announcement of Parker's sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II was made by Boyle, deliberate in his resolve to combat drug trafficking within the community. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Dixon, who prosecuted the case, was part of the broader inter-agency collaboration among the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that brought Parker to justice once more.
