A St. Louis man is facing over twenty years behind bars after a federal jury convicted him on multiple drug and gun charges. 47-year-old Christopher Glen Rhodes was found guilty on Tuesday of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, distribution, possession with intent to distribute, and firearms offenses. The verdict culminates a case that illustrated Rhodes' involvement in supplying substantial quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in the area, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The Justice Department reported evidence at the trial indicated Rhodes provided nearly one pound of meth sold by his co-defendant, Demetrius A. Ransom, to a confidential informant. On one occasion, authorities tracked a drug deal where Ransom sold 416.9 grams of meth supplied by Rhodes for $2,000. The informant, who has reportedly bought meth and fentanyl from Ransom previously, also purchased 435 grams of meth from him in early December.
Rhodes' run-ins with law enforcement escalated on December 19, 2022, when officials intended to execute a search of his residence. Upon encountering Rhodes departing from his home, officers attempted a traffic stop; Rhodes, however, fled the scene. His residence on West Florissant Avenue was searched, where agents discovered large quantities of illegal drugs, including 2.7 kilograms of meth and 3.8 kilos of fentanyl. Alongside the narcotics, law enforcement found $21,000 in cash, a loaded handgun, and various drug paraphernalia. Given Rhodes' prior criminal record, which includes a conviction for intent to distribute cocaine base, his possession of a firearm violated federal law, adding to the gravity of his convictions.
Rhodes had been previously sentenced to almost 25 years in prison in a 2002 case for drug offenses, a term that was later commuted in 2016 under an initiative aimed at reducing sentences deemed too harsh. His sentence was meant to expire in 2018. The magnitude of the current bust, involving several kilos of powerful and dangerous drugs, reflects a serious recurrence into criminal activity. Sentencing is yet to be scheduled, but the stacked charges suggest Rhodes could be looking at a substantial return to prison life.
