An Austin, Texas woman living in Massachusetts has been sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island for her involvement in distributing and conspiring to distribute more than 310 grams of fentanyl. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Patrica Parker, 74, received a sentence of two years’ probation with a special condition of nine months home confinement from U.S. District Court Judge Melissa R. DuBose. Parker had pleaded guilty on May 15, 2025 to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and distribution of over 310 grams of fentanyl, which authorities say is equivalent to 150,000 lethal doses.
Court documents show that Parker participated in drug trafficking over an extended period. Her activities came to light during an investigation in May 2022 when she distributed counterfeit amphetamine pills containing fentanyl to an undercover agent from the Food and Drug Administration.
About ten months after the undercover operation, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Parker’s residence. They found more than 18,000 pills, including Schedule II and IV controlled substances not approved by the FDA and counterfeit amphetamine pills containing fentanyl. Investigators also obtained records indicating that Parker had distributed over one thousand parcels suspected to contain illegal drugs.
Assistant United States Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr. prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations and the US Postal Inspection Service.