ST. LOUIS – In a shocking turn of events, Ralph Ruffin, a 21-year-old man from St. Louis, has pleaded guilty to charges connected to the fatal robbery of a drug dealer in St. Louis, Missouri in 2022.
Ruffin pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to two felony counts: conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, resulting in death. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 4. Both sides have agreed to recommend 20 years in prison.
According to court documents, Ruffin and an associate were waiting inside a home in the 5900 block of Romaine Place when the victim, who had been contacted by Jamie Gore, entered the residence. Gore had recently purchased drugs from the victim and had promised to obtain two guns in exchange for more drugs. When the victim arrived, Ruffin and his associate began firing at him, fatally shooting him in the throat.
The victim, who had fired shots as well, was found to have been robbed of his gun, cash, and fentanyl. Ruffin and his associate then fled the scene, leaving behind the lifeless body of the victim.
Ruffin’s guilty plea comes after his associate, Jamie Gore, had previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance and one count of possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Gore had admitted to aiding Ruffin and others in ‘numerous’ prior drug robberies, with Ruffin giving some of the drugs to Gore and selling the rest.
The Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoff Ogden prosecuting the case.
Ralph Ruffin, a 21-year-old man from St. Louis, faces 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges connected to the fatal robbery of a drug dealer in St. Louis, Missouri in 2022.
Ruffin pleaded guilty to two felony counts: conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, resulting in death. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 4.
Related Federal Cases
- Cevone Weeden, Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking, Missouri 2020 · District of Columbia
- Floyd Barber, Drug Trafficking and Weapons Charges, Missouri 2023 · District of Columbia
- Jerell Henderson, Drug-Linked Murder, Missouri 2023 · District of Columbia
- Joshua Sangrait, Methamphetamine Conspiracy, Missouri 2018 · California
- Bryan Patton Tullous, Meth Trafficking, Missouri 2023 · Idaho
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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