The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

July 22, 2008

2 men plead guilty to federal drug charges

By Joe Pinchot

MERCER COUNTY — Two men with local ties are facing a minimum of 10 years in prison after pleading guilty Tuesday to federal charges.

Stevie D. Dean, 41, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine. In an unrelated case, Percy P. Coleman, 28, formerly of Roemer Boulevard, Farrell, pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute 5 or more grams of crack and possession of a firearm during drug trafficking.

Dean admitted taking a call from an informant at 1:31 p.m. Aug. 28 and agreeing to sell a “deuce” — 2 ounces of crack — to the informant.

Dean told the informant he would meet him in 10 minutes at the Crazzycq Horse, 999 George St., Farrell, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti.

The informant went into the bar, and Dean drove there with Darren D. “Little D” Parchem, 21, in Dean’s car, Rivetti said. Upon meeting with the informant, Dean said he was not on a “2-ounce level,” but Parchem was, Rivetti said. Parchem sold 54.9 grams of crack — just shy of two ounces — for $1,950, with $50 of it going to Dean as a finder’s fee, Rivetti said.

“I knew about the crack deal and stuff,” Dean told U.S. District Court Judge Gary L. Lancaster, Pittsburgh. “I didn’t sell him nothing.”

Under questioning from Lancaster, Dean said again that he took the call, and knew about the deal. Lancaster said someone does not have to sell a drug to be guilty of a drug conspiracy and asked Dean if he still wanted to plea guilty. Dean said that still was his wish.

The charges come with a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison. Rivetti said he will ask for a reduction in Dean’s sentencing guidelines because he played a minor role in the deal and accepted responsibility for his crimes.

Dean acknowledged responsibility for the conduct alleged in a distribution charge, and that also will factor into his guidelines.

At sentencing, Rivetti will ask that the distribution count be dismissed. Dean also agreed to forfeit his Buick.

Sentencing was set for 10 a.m. Oct. 17.

Parchem pleaded guilty earlier this month to conspiracy, and his sentencing was set for 30 minutes before Dean’s.

In Coleman’s case, Southwest Mercer County Regional police said they were called at 3:11 a.m. Dec. 31, 2006, to a disturbance in the 900 block of Market Avenue, Farrell, and found Coleman appearing to try to hide behind a car.

He was arrested when police determined there was a warrant for his arrest, and police found on Coleman a loaded .25-caliber semiautomatic pistol in a holster; $1,442; and a bag of 16.8 grams of crack.

The gun had been stolen in 2005 from Darlington, Pa.

As part of a plea deal, Coleman accepted responsibility for a charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and that will factor into his sentencing.

Rivetti said he will ask for a sentence reduction because Coleman accepted responsibility for his crimes, and agreed not to file a bill of information notifying the court that Coleman has a prior felony drug conviction, which would have bumped up his potential penalty.

Both charges to which Coleman pleaded guilty carry 5-year mandatory minimum sentences, but the firearm sentence must be served consecutively to the drug sentence.

Coleman agreed to forfeit the gun, and Rivetti said he will ask that the second gun charge be dismissed at Coleman’s sentencing, which Lancaster set for 1:30 p.m. Oct. 24

Lancaster ordered that Dean and Coleman remain in jail.

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