CHARLESTON, W.Va - Man who sold cocaine to Pagans gets home confinement

OFF THE WIRE
BY: Andrew Clevenger
Source: wvgazette.com

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Scott Depot man who admitted that he sold cocaine to members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club was sentenced Wednesday in federal court to six months on home confinement.

Edward Day "Fat Ed" Parsons, 30, pleaded guilty to one count of distributing cocaine. Prior to his sentencing, U.S. District Judge Thomas E. Johnston held a closed-door hearing where prosecutors described Parsons' cooperation, which helped earn him a reduced sentence.
As he sentenced Parsons, Johnston noted that he had three prior drug convictions, and that he apparently had made his living selling drugs for most of his adult life.
"Mr. Parsons, from what I can tell you appear to be both a long-term drug dealer and drug user," the judge said.
Although Parsons was named in the sweeping, 44-count racketeering indictment against members and associates of the Pagans unsealed in October 2009, he was not a biker, Johnston said.
Even after Assistant U.S. Attorney Blaire Malkin asked Johnston to give Parsons a reduced sentence, Parsons faced up to 18 months in prison. The judge said he had debated what sentence to impose, and that he decided to take "a bit of a gamble" with Parsons.
"You appear to be making a sincere effort to get away from drugs," he said. "It seems that you are making genuine progress [toward] leaving the drug lifesParsons told the judge that he had been on bond for 14 months without incident.