St. Louis man Deandre Chaney, aka “Meazy,” 20, was hit with a 46-month federal prison sentence for his role in a fentanyl and heroin distribution ring that flooded parts of the city in early 2019. The conviction, handed down today before U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig, marks the end of a fast-moving narcotics operation that federal agents dismantled using a confidential informant.
Between January and March 2019, Chaney used multiple phone lines to arrange drug deals with the informant, directing them to drop points across St. Louis where transactions occurred. On ten separate dates — January 28, February 1, 5, 8, 13, 21, March 1, 7, 22, and 28 — law enforcement purchased controlled substances directly from Chaney or his co-defendant, Daniel Strong. In just under three months, the operation yielded 65.71 grams of marijuana, 31.89 grams of heroin, and 31.09 grams of fentanyl — enough to fuel dozens of overdoses.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) led the investigation, leaning heavily on the confidential informant to record and verify each exchange. Chaney didn’t just supply the poison — he orchestrated logistics, managed communication, and maintained a network that kept the flow of drugs moving. His use of multiple phones signaled awareness of surveillance, investigators noted, a calculated move to stay ahead of the law.
When authorities attempted to extend the sting in April 2019, Chaney and Strong tried to pull a switch — twice delivering fake narcotics on April 12 and April 23. That didn’t save them. By then, federal prosecutors had more than enough evidence to charge both men with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, including deadly fentanyl, which has fueled a national overdose crisis.
Co-defendant Daniel Strong, tied to every phase of the operation, was sentenced earlier on June 15, 2020, to 28 months in federal prison. His shorter sentence reflects cooperation or lesser culpability, though court records do not detail the exact reasons. Chaney, labeled a key player, received a steeper penalty, underscoring prosecutors’ push to target mid-level traffickers who amplify the drug epidemic.
The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the ATF, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Angie Danis. With fentanyl cutting deeper into urban neighborhoods, federal and local agencies say crackdowns like this are part of a broader strategy to dismantle supply chains before they claim more lives. For now, ‘Meazy’ is off the streets — but the poison he helped spread lingers long after the arrest.
Related Federal Cases
- St. Louis Man Gets 10 Years for Massive Fentanyl Haul · Missouri
- Illinois Man Gets 32 Years for Heroin Trafficking in Springfield · Illinois
- Bollinger Gets 10+ Years in Heroin Death · Texas
- Heroin Dealer McGregory Gets 6.5 Years for Overdose · Missouri
- St. Louis Crack Dealer Jones Gets 7 Years · Missouri
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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