United States Drug Enforcement Administration

ST. LOUIS – Richard Lawrence Davis, 38, of St. Louis, Missouri, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

In September 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 Sept. 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. Law enforcement officers seized over two kilograms of cocaine and one-half kilogram of fentanyl belonging to Davis at his residence. Investigators also located and seized a .40 caliber, semi-automatic Glock handgun and a .45 caliber, semi-automatic Hi-Point 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 Sept. 30, 2021. Davis faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 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 arrest.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Florissant Police Department, the Bridgeton, Mo., Police Department, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, and the St. Charles, Mo., Police Department.