Suspect in Finger Lakes drug trafficking ring arrested in North Carolina

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — A man suspected of running a drug trafficking ring in the Finger Lakes region was arrested in North Carolina last Thursday.

The Ontario County Sheriff’s Office began investigating the drug ring in November 2022. Sharif D Parker allegedly ran the ring. On June 23, 2023, deputies searched multiple locations, including Parker’s home in Wayne County.

While searching his home, deputies said they found illegal drugs, guns, and other weapons.

Parker was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second-and-third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, second-degree money laundering, fourth-degree conspiracy, and second-degree criminal using drug paraphernalia.

Before the indictment was issued, it was alleged that Parker left the area to avoid prosecution. After pursuing several leads and tips, Parker was found last Thursday at a home near Charlotte, North Carolina.

Parker was taken to the Cabarrus County Jail. Deputies are working to extradite him back to Ontario County to answer to these charges.

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