St. Louis Fentanyl Kingpin Nicholas Simmons Sentenced to Over Four Years

ST. LOUIS, MO – Federal Judge E. Richard Webber has dealt a tough blow to the streets of St. Louis by sentencing Nicholas Simmons, 37, to 46 months in prison and three years of supervised release for distribution of fentanyl. Simmons pleaded guilty in June.

The FBI’s relentless pursuit began in December 2018 when they received intel that Simmons was selling deadly fentanyl capsules in the heart of St. Louis. From January 17, 2019, to April 25, 2019, agents made nine undercover buys from Simmons, accumulating a stash of 16-20 capsules with each transaction.

On May 13, 2019, the FBI’s surveillance led to a dramatic scene as they approached Simmons. The suspect tried to flee in his vehicle, which ultimately resulted in a crash. Agents then apprehended him, seizing a loaded .45 caliber pistol and a significant amount of fentanyl. The tally? 19 capsules on Simmons’ person, and an additional 152 capsules hidden in a black plastic bag.

But the drug bust was just the beginning. FBI agents secured search warrants for two residences tied to Simmons. At one home, they found drug paraphernalia and multiple firearms. The second residence yielded three more guns, around two kilograms of marijuana, 46 grams of cocaine, 12 grams of crack cocaine, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

This case was a testament to the collaborative efforts between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Sara Koppenaal was the driving force behind the prosecution for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

As Simmons begins his sentence, law enforcement officials hope this sends a clear message: the sale and distribution of fentanyl will not be tolerated in their city. The streets of St. Louis are one step closer to being safer as a result of this conviction.

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