Hampton man pleads guilty to robbery and firearm charges in connection with hampton shooting
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Michael Jerome Parker, 30, of Hampton, Va., pled guilty yesterday to Conspiracy to Interfere with Commerce by Robbery and to Carrying and Discharging a Firearm in Relation to a Crime of Violence.
Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by United States Magistrate Judge Tommy E. Miller.
Parker was indicted on July 7, 2010, on the Hobbs Act robbery charges and the firearm charge. Parker faces a maximum penalty of 20 years on the robbery charge and a consecutive ten years to life sentence for the use and discharge of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. He is to be sentenced on March 2, 2011, by United States District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith.
In a statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, Parker admitted receiving a Smith and Wesson firearm from an associate for the purpose of committing a robbery of an individual who had arranged to supply Parker with crack cocaine. On March 12, 2010, in the course of the robbery in the parking lot of a Hampton condominium complex, Parker exchanged gun fire with the drug supplier. More than 25 shots were fired during which both Parker and the drug supplier were wounded. Ballistic and DNA evidence tied Parker to the firearm used in the robbery. Two other individuals were previously convicted and sentenced in relation to this crime.
This case was investigated by the Hampton Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. Special Assistant United States Attorney Timothy R. Murphy prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.uspci.uscourts.gov.
