Fentanyl Kingpin Sentenced to 22 Years for Trafficking, Gun Crimes

A 37-year-old Columbia, Missouri man has been handed a 22-year prison sentence for his role in a massive fentanyl trafficking operation.

Robert Jevon Bean, also known as ‘Shaq,’ was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark to 22 years and six months in federal prison without parole, according to the Department of Justice.

The sentence stems from Bean’s guilty plea in November 2023 to one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

Bean was stopped by Columbia police officers on June 22, 2022, during a traffic stop, where he was found to be in possession of 12.5 grams of fentanyl. A subsequent search of his residence uncovered a stash of firearms, including a Glock 9mm handgun converted into a machine gun, an American Tactical AR-15 .223/5.56 pistol, and a Keltec .40-caliber rifle, among others.

According to court documents, unsecured firearms were found scattered throughout the residence, including next to video game controllers, in the kitchen pantry, and alongside a bed. Bean’s 10-year-old child was present at the time of the search.

Bean told investigators that he paid $1,400 per ounce for the fentanyl and sold it for $210 per gram. He claimed to have distributed at least four kilograms of fentanyl from a source in Detroit, Michigan, and approximately two ounces from a more recent source in St. Louis, Missouri.

The investigation, which involved the Columbia Police Department, the DEA, and the ATF, seized a total of $23,235 in cash, which must be forfeited to the government. Bean’s Facebook profile revealed multiple posts and livestream videos showcasing his arsenal of firearms, including a black Taurus 9mm handgun with an extended magazine and a laser attachment.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Ann Pierce. Bean’s actions will have a significant impact on the community, and his sentence serves as a reminder of the severe consequences of engaging in fentanyl trafficking and gun crimes.

Bean’s 22-year sentence is a stark reminder that law enforcement will not tolerate the trade of deadly fentanyl and the proliferation of firearms in our communities.

As the Grimy Times continues to expose the dark underbelly of crime in America, it’s clear that the war on fentanyl and gun violence is far from over.