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Press Release

Hillsdale Police Lieutenant And Officer Plead Guilty To Federal Drug Charges

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Missouri

St. Louis, MO – LIEUTENANT PARRISH SWANSON and OFFICER RAYMOND STEPHENS pled guilty to charges of conspiracy to distribute and attempted distribution of heroin.

According to court documents, during March 2014, Swanson and Stephens agreed to assist an associate, a suspected drug dealer, rob or what is more commonly referred to as "rip off," a drug courier of an amount of heroin within the City of Hillsdale.  The associate agreed to pay Swanson and Stephens cash for their assistance in this "rip off."  On March 20, 2014, Stephens, while on duty as a Hillsdale police officer, approached the drug courier and robbed him of approximately four ounces of suspected heroin.  He later met with the associate and gave him the heroin in exchange for $900 cash.  Stephens then gave Swanson $200 of the $900 per their previous agreement. 

Swanson, St. Louis, Missouri; and Stevens, St. Charles, Missouri, pled guilty to one felony count each of conspiracy to distribute heroin and attempt to distribute heroin before United States District Judge Rodney W. Sippel. Sentencing for both defendants has been set for October 2014.

Each count carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or fines up to $1 million.  In determining the actual sentences, a Judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the St. Louis County Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorneys Hal Goldsmith and John Bodenhausen are handling the case for the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Updated March 19, 2015