EAST ST. LOUIS, IL – Lacy Edward Snead, 53, of Chicago, is headed to federal prison for a significant stretch after being sentenced to 85 months for his role in a multi-year heroin distribution network stretching from the Windy City to the St. Louis metropolitan area. The sentence, handed down Friday, April 21, 2017, marks the culmination of a case pursued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois.
Snead was initially indicted on December 16, 2015, alongside two other individuals: Alfred Reeves, Jr., 43, of O’Fallon, Ill., and Ciera McNeal, 29 of East St. Louis, Ill. The charges stemmed from a superseding indictment detailing Snead’s distribution of heroin and participation in a conspiracy to distribute the drug spanning three years. The initial transaction occurred on March 5, 2013, but the operation continued for years, poisoning communities on both sides of the Mississippi.
Court documents reveal that Snead and Reeves, Jr. directly sold heroin to a confidential informant on that fateful March day in 2013. But their involvement didn’t stop there. The pair continued to peddle the deadly opioid. A major bust came on June 18, 2015, when Snead traveled from Chicago with Reeves and McNeal, brazenly transporting approximately 150 grams of heroin destined for the streets of the St. Louis area. This wasn’t a small-time operation; it was a calculated effort to flood the region with narcotics.
Snead ultimately pleaded guilty in September 2016, acknowledging his culpability in the heroin conspiracy. His co-defendants had already faced justice. Ciera McNeal received a 30-month prison sentence in October 2016, while Alfred Reeves, Jr. was sentenced to 67 months. While these sentences brought some measure of accountability, Snead’s longer sentence reflects the gravity of his involvement as a key player in the drug pipeline.
The investigation was a joint effort between agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Madison County Sheriff’s Department. These agencies worked tirelessly to dismantle the operation and bring those responsible to justice. Assistant United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft skillfully prosecuted the case, ensuring that Snead faced the full weight of the law.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the persistent threat posed by drug trafficking organizations. The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to prosecuting those who profit from the misery of others and to protecting communities from the devastating effects of heroin and other illicit drugs. The 85-month sentence handed down to Lacy Edward Snead sends a clear message: drug trafficking will not be tolerated.
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Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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