CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Fayette County man pleaded guilty today to a federal drug crime.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Joshua Lee Parsons, 42, admitted to ordering controlled substances on the dark web and having the controlled substances shipped to him at his residence in Powellton. On February 24, 2021, the United States Customs and Border Protection at the John F. Kennedy International Mail Center in New York seized approximately 49 grams of heroin from an inbound international parcel addressed to Parsons and his residence. On March 8, 2021, several law enforcement agencies conducted a controlled delivery of the parcel and executed a search warrant at the Parsons’ residence. During the search, officers recovered a loaded Hi-Point .380 handgun and multiple controlled substances, including approximately 66 grams of methamphetamine packaged in 103 separate bags. Parsons admitted that he intended to sell the methamphetamine. Parsons told officers that he had another parcel that contained methamphetamine that he ordered and had shipped to him at his residence. On March 15, 2021, law enforcement intercepted that parcel, which contained approximately 223 grams of methamphetamine.
Parsons pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 30, 2022, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the work of the Department of Homeland Security, the United States Customs and Border Protection, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the West Virginia State Police, the Central West Virginia Drug Task Force, the Metro Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), and the West Virginia National Guard Reconnaissance and Aerial Interdiction Detachment.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Courtney L. Cremeans is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00093.
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