A Hopewell man was sentenced Friday to 16 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine throughout the tri-cities region of Central Virginia.
Cleveland Lamont Parson, 51, conspired with Aaron Larde Heath, 39, of Chester, and others to broker the purchase of kilogram quantities of cocaine from various sources in Virginia, North Carolina, Mexico and elsewhere and to coordinate cocaine shipments.
According to court documents, from May 2021 through October 2023, Parson used his residence in Hopewell as a stash house to distribute, store and transfer the cocaine. Parson and Heath were responsible for distributing between 50-150 kilograms of cocaine during the course of the conspiracy. The total street value of the cocaine is nearly $4 million.
On May 18, 2023, Jerrell Stanley Bugg, 46, of Chester, purchased three kilograms of cocaine from Parson. After Bugg left Parson’s residence with the cocaine, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop, during which Bugg recovered a 9mm semi-automatic handgun to law enforcement. Bugg attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended at the scene. Law enforcement recovered the cocaine from the vehicle. On Dec. 8, 2023, Bugg pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and, on May 7, was sentenced to seven years in prison.
In August 2023, Parson and Heath received 18 kilograms of cocaine, but upon inspection, determined a portion of the cocaine was of poor quality and decided to return that portion.
On Aug. 6, 2023, couriers Jose Misael Reyes, 33, of El Salvador, and Corina Chavez, 31, of Bailey, N.C., transported the low-quality cocaine to their residence in Roanoke Rapids, N.C. On Aug. 7, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the residence and recovered the cocaine. On Jan. 12, Reyes pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and, on June 13, was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison. On Jan. 19, Chavez pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and, on June 13, was sentenced to five years and 10 months in prison.
On Aug. 20, 2023, Heath traveled from Virginia to Charlotte, N.C., and acquired 20 kilograms of cocaine. Heath recruited Antonio Shaw, 61, of Hopewell, to serve as a courier for Heath and agreed to pay Shaw to transport the cocaine to Virginia. At a hotel in Charlotte, Heath provided the 20 kilograms of cocaine to Shaw. As Shaw traveled to Virginia, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop in Randolph County, N.C., and recovered the cocaine from the trunk of Shaw’s vehicle. On Jan. 16, Shaw pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and, on July 12, was sentenced to five years and six months in prison.
On Oct. 25, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Parson’s residence.
During the search, law enforcement recovered:
- 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun
- .38 caliber revolver
- .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun with an extended 30 round magazine
- .762 caliber AK-47 semiautomatic rifle
- two shotgun magazines
- a money counter
- $37,261
- multiple cellphones
On Dec. 5, 2023, Heath pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and, on May 3, was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Facing the music: Central Virginia cocaine conspirators
- Cleveland Lamont Parson, 51, Hopewell, sentenced to 16 years in prison
- Aaron Larde Heath, 39, Chester, sentenced to 15 years in prison
- Jose Misael Reyes, 33, of El Salvador, sentenced to 11 years, three months in prison
- Jerrell Stanley Bugg, 46, of Chester, sentenced to seven years in prison
- Corina Chavez, 31, of Bailey, N.C., sentenced to five years, 10 months in prison
- Antonio Shaw, 61, of Hopewell, sentenced to five years, six months in prison
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Crystal Graham
