Evergreen Reporter

A Waterloo man has been sentenced to twenty years in federal prison for distributing cocaine and obtaining a fraudulent loan. Parrish Austin, aged 40, pleaded guilty on February 13, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and wire fraud.

Court hearings revealed that Austin began distributing kilograms of cocaine in late 2019 or early 2020 until October 5, 2022. He supplied the drugs to Justin Cole in Waterloo, who then redistributed them with others including Tavarious Glasper and Chris Roby. Austin was responsible for at least ten kilograms of cocaine distribution.

In addition to drug trafficking, Austin fraudulently secured a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan of $18,322 in May 2021. He later applied for forgiveness of this loan after receiving the funds.

United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams sentenced Austin in Cedar Rapids to 240 months' imprisonment and ordered him to pay $18,322 in restitution. Following his prison term, he will serve five years of supervised release without parole.

Twelve other individuals from Waterloo were previously convicted for their roles in either the drug trafficking or PPP fraud schemes:

- Kiesha Ann Morman received five years' probation and must repay $19,835.

- Tavarious Glasper was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment.

- Chris Lee Roby received a sentence of just over four years.

- Justin A. Cole was given over sixteen years and must repay $20,832.

- Sheila Renee Cole served two months with restitution set at $19,583.

- Shalla Scherrice Cole received seven months with restitution of $20,415.

- Tia Lynette Cole-Sykes was given five years' probation with repayment of $19,790.

- Orenthal James Jones served two years and must repay $20,832.

- Allure Shapree Roby had a two-week sentence with the same amount owed as Jones.

- Ida Made Roby got three years’ probation with restitution set at $20,833.

- Stacy Antwanette Cole also received five years’ probation and owes $20,332.

- Reid Jonathan Geerts faced fifteen months behind bars and must repay $19,166.

Austin is currently held by the United States Marshal's custody pending transfer to a federal facility.

The COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force continues its efforts against pandemic-related frauds through cooperation among various government agencies. Information about such fraud can be reported via the Department of Justice's National Center for Disaster Fraud hotline or online form.

The case prosecution involved Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael Hudson under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force program. Multiple law enforcement agencies participated in this investigation including the FBI; ATF; DEA; Homeland Security Investigations; local police departments; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; and Iowa State Patrol.

Further details can be accessed through court file number 23‑CR‑02057‑CJW online.