McALESTER —
A McAlester woman is facing 10 federal felony drug charges.
Shila Ann Parker, 32, of McAlester, was arraigned Dec. 13 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee. She is being charged with conspiracy to possess and distribute pseudoephedrine, used to manufacture methamphetamine, and nine counts of interstate travel or transportation in aid of racketeering enterprises.
Charges against Parker arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, Bureau of Indian Affairs, McAlester Police Department, Oklahoma District Attorney District 18 Drug Task Force, Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, Choctaw Nation Tribal Police, Krebs Police Department, Stillwater Police Department, Shawnee Police Department, Tulsa Police Department, Broken Arrow Police Department, Kiowa Police Department, Lamar County Texas Sheriff’s Office and the Sherman, Texas, Police Department.
The indictment alleges that from January 2010 to July 2012, Parker and co-defendant Larry Eugene Pirpich Jr. conspired with one another to possess and distribute a pseudoephedrine, knowing the pseudoephedrine would be used to manufacture methamphetamine.
“While residing in McAlester ... Parker and Pirpich would purchase Pseudoephedrine from locations within Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado and New Mexico for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine within the Eastern District of Oklahoma and elsewhere,” a press release from the U.S Attorney’s office - EDOK. “Parker and Pirpich possessed Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, and Ohio state identification which enabled them to make Pseudoephedrine purchases in multiple states. The Defendants were aware of the Pseudoephedrine purchase limits in Oklahoma and would travel to other states to make Pseudoephedrine purchases when their purchase limits had been met in Oklahoma.”
The press release alleges Parker and Pirpich purchased more than 9 grams of Pseudoephedrine in a single day. “During the course of the conspiracy, Parker individually purchased 1.14 kilograms of Pseudoephedrine and Pirpich individually purchased 1.82 kilograms of Pseudoephedrine,” the press release alleges. “At times throughout the conspiracy, Parker and Pirpich would steal, attempt to steal or purchase items utilized in the manufacture of methamphetamine, in addition to Pseudoephedrine, such as lithium batteries, camp fuel, denatured alcohol, and acetone.”
Parker and Pirpich pleaded not guilty. If convicted, Parker is facing up to 20 years imprisonment and up to a $250,000 fine on the first count. For each of the remaining counts, she is facing up to five years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine.
Parker is currently in custody with the U.S Marshal Service pending a Feb. 5 jury trial.
Contact Rachel Petersen at rpetersen@mcalesternews.com.
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