St. Louis Rapper LA 4SS Arrested in Fentanyl, Gun Bust

St. Louis rapper Antonio Harris, 25, was booked into federal custody Wednesday on charges tied to fentanyl possession and illegal firearm use—accused of fleeing police, crashing his vehicle, and dumping nearly 400 fentanyl-laced capsules during a frantic escape in North St. Louis.

Harris, who performs under the name ‘LA 4SS,’ was indicted June 22, 2022, on three counts: possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. He pleaded not guilty during his court appearance, but federal prosecutors are building a case rooted in a chaotic traffic stop gone wrong.

According to a federal detention motion, officers attempted to stop a Toyota Corolla on North Broadway in the Baden neighborhood when Harris accelerated and fled. Police deployed spike strips, but Harris barreled north on Riverview Drive before slamming into the median near Spring Garden Drive. The impact left the car mangled, but not before Harris bolted on foot.

As he fled, Harris discarded a bag containing nearly 400 fentanyl-laced capsules and plastic baggies with just under 6 grams of raw fentanyl, court documents state. Inside the wrecked Corolla, investigators recovered a loaded Glock 9mm pistol. Ballistics checks are pending, but the firearm alone could carry a 10-year mandatory minimum due to the drug trafficking enhancement.

Harris is a convicted felon with multiple prior felony convictions, making his possession of the Glock illegal under federal law. Prosecutors argue he’s a danger to the community, citing the high-risk flight and the lethal nature of fentanyl, which has fueled a spike in overdose deaths across Missouri.

The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Martin. The charges in the indictment are accusations; Harris is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

RELATED: St. Louis Rapper Grimeyy Sentenced to 7+ Years on Gun Charge