St. Louis man pleads guilty to cocaine, fentanyl, and weapon charges

 ST. LOUIS – Richard Lawrence Davis, 38, of St. Louis, Missouri, appeared before United States District Court Judge Stephen R. Clark on today’s date and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.  

In September of 2019, investigators identified Davis as a distributor of narcotics, including cocaine and fentanyl.  Investigators then initiated a surveillance of Davis’s activities in and around the 700 block of Greenway Manor Drive in Florissant, Missouri.

While conducting surveillance on September 25, investigators observed a narcotics transaction conducted by Davis, and subsequently seized over a half-kilogram of cocaine from Davis’s customer.

Investigators resumed their surveillance of Davis, where they observed other transactions. Investigators approached Davis, who fled and tried to discard approximately 80 grams of cocaine.  Davis was ultimately apprehended.  Investigators searched the apartment where Davis was storing his narcotics. Law enforcement officers seized over two kilograms of cocaine belonging to Davis, along with approximately one-half kilogram of fentanyl.  Investigators also located and seized a Glock, .40 caliber, semi-automatic handgun and a Hi-Point, .45 caliber, semi-automatic handgun belonging to Davis, as well as a digital scale and wrappings for kilogram-amounts or “bricks” of cocaine.

Judge Clark has set sentencing for September 30, 2021.  Davis faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of ten years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life in the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Davis was also on federal supervised release for previous federal drug and weapon offenses at the time of his above-described arrest. 

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Florissant Police Department, the Bridgeton Police Department, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, and the St. Charles Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Lisa Yemm and Ricardo Dixon are handling the case.