ST. LOUIS, MO – Theodise D. Perkins, 23, of Florissant, Missouri, is headed to federal prison for 51 months after a brazen attempt to evade justice backfired. U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk delivered the sentence Thursday, adding significant time to Perkins’ punishment for fleeing while under court supervision.
The case began on March 4, 2020, when Perkins was a passenger in a vehicle pulled over by St. Louis police. The driver immediately floored it, leading officers on a prolonged chase. Perkins, rather than cooperate, bailed out on foot, ditching a loaded .45-caliber pistol in the process. A search revealed he was carrying 19.77 grams of fentanyl, packaged in capsules and small baggies, along with $1,004 in cash. The evidence quickly established Perkins as a fentanyl dealer.
Perkins eventually pleaded guilty on May 18, 2022, to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. He was released on bond, a decision he repaid with contempt. Instead of honoring the court’s trust, Perkins vanished, skipping out on his pretrial supervision and, crucially, failing to appear for his scheduled sentencing hearing. This act of defiance didn’t go unnoticed – or unpunished.
After months on the run, Perkins was finally apprehended on June 27, 2023, and has been cooling his heels in jail ever since. Judge Pitlyk made it clear that Perkins’ flight was a serious offense, tacking on an additional 21 months to the sentencing guidelines. What could have been a relatively short stint in prison was dramatically extended by his own actions.
The investigation was a collaborative effort, involving the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the St. Louis County Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Missouri Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Bluestone led the prosecution, ensuring Perkins faced the consequences for both the fentanyl and the attempted escape.
This case serves as a stark warning: fleeing from justice will only make things worse. Perkins’ initial charge was serious enough, but his decision to abscond turned a potential 21-month sentence into a 51-month ordeal. The Grimy Times will continue to follow federal crime in the Eastern District of Missouri and beyond, exposing the truth behind the headlines.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Press Release
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