Crime

Man Who Conspired With Others to Smuggle Cocaine Through St. Croix Airport Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison

ST. CROIX — U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced Wednesday that Keithley Parris, age 34 of St. Croix was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison by visiting Judge Ann E. Thompson for conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. His sentence will be followed by 4 years of supervised release, a fine of $1,000 and a $200 special assessment. Parris was previously convicted on those charges after a week-long jury trial on May 28, 2021. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Parris conspired with co-defendants Don-Luke George and Zion Hazel in April of 2018 to smuggle 2 kilograms of cocaine through the St. Croix Henry E. Rohlsen Airport with the intent to transport the cocaine to Miami via an American Airlines flight. Evidence presented at the trial showed that Parris organized and planned the operation; recruited George and Hazel to participate; supplied the cocaine to George; paid George $1,...