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Press Release

Grand Jury indicts St. Louis man and 19 others for their roles in a nation-wide drug ring

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Missouri

ST. LOUIS – A federal grand jury indicted Steven Bell for charges that include conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine in a large-scale nation-wide drug ring.  The group transported and distributed illegal narcotics in numerous states to include California, Michigan, Missouri, Kentucky and Texas. 

The indictment alleges that Bell knowingly and intentionally possessed 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and knowingly possessed a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The indictment further alleges that Bell knowingly possessed a firearm, having previously been convicted of crimes that prohibited possession of said firearm. 

Beginning at a time unknown but including February 2021, in the Eastern District of Missouri, Bell and others were involved in the distribution of controlled substances.  The indictment alleges Darius M. McCullum was the primary source of supply for the organization in California.  The drug trafficking organization used various means to transport illegal narcotics and or bulk cash, to include the mail and the use of several “mules” or couriers.  Agents identified several “stash” houses in numerous cities, to include Detroit, Michigan, Lexington, Kentucky and St. Louis, Missouri. 

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Charges set forth in the indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt.  Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. 

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Marshals Service and the United States Postal Inspection Service. 

Updated November 16, 2021

Topic
Drug Trafficking