KANSAS CITY, MO – Walter Antwine Moore, 42, of Columbia, Missouri, is facing a mountain of federal charges after a two-city crime spree involving enough fentanyl to kill thousands, a hefty stash of methamphetamine, and a loaded handgun. Moore, already a convicted felon, was indicted this week on charges that could put him away for decades.
The bust began January 7th in St. Joseph, Missouri, when police responded to a call at Speedy’s Convenience Store. Moore was allegedly trying to hawk drugs after shoplifting a bag of potato chips. A search of his vehicle yielded a staggering 284.8 grams of methamphetamine, packaged for street-level distribution, and a loaded Glock .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun. He was initially detained, but the trouble didn’t end there.
Just over a month later, on February 10th, law enforcement tracked Moore to a Kansas City train station. When detectives attempted to question him, Moore bolted, attempting to evade arrest on foot. He was quickly subdued by detectives and tactical officers, and a search revealed a bundle containing approximately 2,300 fentanyl pills – a deadly dose for a large population. The pills were wrapped in clear cellophane, ready for sale.
Federal prosecutors have now filed a four-count indictment against Moore, charging him with possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute. Moore’s extensive criminal history – including two prior convictions for robbery, two for forgery, and multiple felony convictions for drug and weapons offenses – makes him a repeat offender with no regard for the law.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by a multi-agency task force including the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Missouri Interdiction and Narcotics Task Force (MoWIN), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Northwest Missouri Drug Task Force. The case is also part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence.
Moore remains in federal custody without bond. The indictment serves as an accusation, and Moore is presumed innocent until proven guilty at trial. However, given the quantity of drugs and the presence of a firearm, a lengthy sentence is almost certain if convicted. This case highlights the ongoing struggle to stem the flow of deadly drugs into Missouri communities and the dangers posed by repeat offenders.
Related Federal Cases
- Jermel D. McCray, Machine Gun Trafficking, Missouri 2024 · Kansas
- Matthew Allen Hampton, Methamphetamine Trafficking, Missouri 2024 · Ohio
- James Frederick Johnson, Drug Trafficking, MO 2025 · Illinois
- Multi-Million Dollar Meth and Heroin Trafficking Ring, Missouri 2020 · Ohio
- Terreall McDaniel, Drug Trafficking and Firearms Possession, MO 2018 · Illinois
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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