ST. LOUIS – Charles T. McRoberts, 50, of Wentzville, Missouri, is headed to federal prison for a decade after being sentenced to 120 months for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig, marking a significant blow to the flow of the deadly opioid in the St. Louis area.
The case unfolded on July 12, 2019, when McRoberts and his co-defendant, Gernell Armour, were found to be in possession of approximately one kilogram of fentanyl. The initial break came the day prior when St. Louis Police Officers, working at the United Parcel Service Shipment Sorting Center, flagged a suspicious package originating from Las Vegas, Nevada. Investigators quickly discovered the sender’s information was fabricated, a common tactic used by those trafficking illegal substances.
A K-9 unit positively alerted to the presence of narcotics within the package, prompting investigators to secure a warrant. Upon opening it, they found clothing, a light bulb, and, crucially, vacuum-sealed bags containing what was suspected to be a mix of heroin and fentanyl. This discovery set the stage for a carefully orchestrated sting operation designed to catch those responsible.
Detectives replaced the original package with a decoy and obtained a search warrant for the St. Louis address to which the initial package was destined. On July 12th, a UPS employee attempted delivery of the decoy. A person inside the residence accepted the package but claimed ignorance of its contents. Surveillance teams observed McRoberts at the location during the delivery and watched as he later returned to retrieve the decoy package – the moment they moved in to make the arrest.
McRoberts’ attempt to take possession of the decoy package sealed his fate. He was taken into custody immediately. While McRoberts now faces a lengthy prison sentence, his co-defendant, Gernell Armour, is still awaiting trial and is presumed innocent of the charges. The investigation was a joint effort between the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. Louis Metro Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Nauman Wadalawala prosecuted the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. This conviction underscores the continued commitment of federal law enforcement to dismantle drug trafficking operations and hold accountable those who profit from the distribution of deadly substances like fentanyl. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the ongoing fight against the opioid crisis in Missouri.
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Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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