DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

United States Attorney
Gretchen C. F. Shappert
Western District of North Carolina

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY, 18, 2009

CONTACT: Suellen Pierce
704.338.3120
Fax: 704.227.0264

“OPERATION HARMONY ROCKS” DEFENDANTS SENTENCED TO LIFE AND TO 30 YEARS IN CULMINATION OF CHARLOTTE, NC — Gretchen C.F. Shappert, United States Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, announced today that Derrick Rayshawn Parks, 32, and Kendrick Tremayne Oakley, also known as Tremayne Kendrick Blackwell, 30, were sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard L. Voorhees to life in federal prison and 30 years in federal prison, respectively.

Parks was a resident of Troutman and Oakley was a resident of Mooresville, prior to their incarceration on federal drug charges. According to testimony presented at the defendants’ trial, Parks and Oakley were members of a conspiracy responsible for the distribution and sale of large quantities of powder cocaine and crack cocaine in Iredell County. Witnesses at the trial described both men as carrying firearms and “cooking” powder cocaine into crack cocaine for distribution by various associates of the defendants. The jury also heard testimony by law enforcement officers about the November 10, 2005 search of a residence on Fox Street in Statesville, where officers seized over $20,000 in currency, ammunition, scales covered with cocaine dust, and documents associated with the defendants.

Also presented at the trial was evidence that the defendants engaged in significant travel, including trips to Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Los Angeles; that the defendants used numerous cell phones; and that various residences in Statesville and Harmony were used for drug distribution.

United States Attorney Shappert, who tried the case before a jury in Statesville and who handled today’s sentencing hearing, expressed her appreciation for agents of Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the deputies of the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office. In particular, Shappert expressed her appreciate for the tireless efforts of Lieutenant David Ramsey of the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office. “Lieutenant David Ramsey was the driving force behind Operation Harmony Rocks. By virtue of his thorough investigation and tireless leadership, 53 defendants have been arrested and have pled guilty or have been convicted at trial since this case began in 2005. Kilos of cocaine, thousands of dollars in cash, and numerous weapons have been taken away from criminals due to Lieutenant Ramsey’s efforts. Statesville and Iredell County are safer because of his hard work.”