A St. Louis County man, Jerry Massey, 33, has received a 15-year prison term for his involvement in the trafficking of illegal substances, including methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Missouri, Massey pleaded guilty in April to several charges related to drug distribution. His sentencing, delivered by U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey this Tuesday, stems from a sting operation by the Drug Enforcement Administration that began as early as January 2022.
As part of the undercover investigation, the DEA purchased drugs directly linked to Massey over several months in 2024 in both St. Louis and Illinois. Specific transaction dates included January 18, 24, and 31, as well as February 8, 14, 29, March 7 and 14. Massey's operation came to a halt after a March raid on his property turned up cash and fentanyl-laced pills, the plea agreement detailed, DEA purchases on February 14 involved fentanyl and cocaine, adding a twist to Massey's array of illicit dealings.
Others involved with Massey have also faced the wheels of justice. Darrion Dardon, 32, and Darius Smith, 31, both entered guilty pleas for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Ronald Finney, 32, and Michael Davis, 34, also tendered guilty pleas—Finney for drug offenses and Davis for both drug offenses and the additional charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Details of the plea agreements bring to light the interconnected roles each player held. For example, Smith supplied meth for Massey's January 24 sale, whereas Dardon managed a complex mix of heroin, cocaine, and xylazine on February 29. During the March 14 transactions, Finney and Davis were caught selling meth, and Davis sold fentanyl respectively. When law enforcement searched Finney's residence, they secured not just drugs, but a handgun and other related equipment. Davis' home yielded an even broader cache including fentanyl, multiple other drugs, a digital scale, a handgun, and paraphernalia suggestive of large-scale distribution efforts.
While Massey now begins his lengthy sentence, Finney and Davis are still awaiting their fate. Sentencing for Dardon concluded with 84 months behind bars, and Smith received 96 months, a reflection of their relative involvement in the criminal enterprise. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin Granger spearheaded the prosecution with support from both the DEA and the St. Louis County Police Department.
