JUL 16 -- Steven W. Derr, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England and Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Hartford returned an Indictment today charging BILLY PARKMAN, 29, of Mill Pond Road in the Broad Brook section of East Windsor, with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”), one count of possession with the intent to distribute and distribution of more than 50 grams of cocaine base, and one count of possession with the intent to distribute and distribution of five grams or more of cocaine base.

The charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a maximum term of imprisonment of life and a fine of up to $4 million.  The charge of possession with the intent to distribute and distribution of more than 50 grams of cocaine base also carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a maximum term of imprisonment of life and a fine of up to $4 million.  The charge of possession with the intent to distribute and distribution of five grams or more of cocaine base carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years, a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years and a fine of up to $2 million.

Acting U.S. Attorney Dannehy stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is entitled to a fair trial at which it is the Government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the Hartford Violent Crime Impact Team (VCIT), which is a joint task force dedicated to combating violent crime and firearms violations.  The VCIT is composed of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Hartford Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Connecticut State Police.