Drug Mule's 0.8-Mile Drive Ends in 17-Year Sentence

A Jacksonville man, Owens Coleman Parker Jr., has been sentenced to 17 years and six months in federal prison for his involvement in a cross-country drug trafficking operation. Parker was caught handling the final 0.8 miles of a delivery involving thousands of doses of fentanyl and methamphetamine.

The drugs, amounting to over 29 pounds of fentanyl and methamphetamine, were discovered hidden in a vehicle. Parker was promised $1,000 for this short transport from a shopping center to a nearby residence. This incident occurred after a prior drug shipment was intercepted by authorities, leading to a surveillance operation.

Parker had previously engaged in smaller drug transfers and, after his arrest in 2023, fled to Mexico. He remained in hiding for approximately 18 months before voluntarily surrendering himself at the Arizona border in April 2025. He pleaded guilty in February 2026 to conspiring to possess meth and fentanyl with intent to distribute.

During his sentencing on June 24, 2026, Parker expressed remorse, stating he made a terrible choice for extra money. U.S. District Judge Jordan E. Pratt acknowledged Parker's limited role in the larger organization and the fact that he was not the primary profit-maker, opting for a sentence below the recommended guideline range but still substantial due to the quantity of drugs.