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Press Release

St. Charles Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Distributing Heroin that Resulted in Death

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

St. Louis, MO – Anthony Marion, a/k/a “Bird,” 36, of St. Charles, Missouri, was sentenced to 240 months in prison for heroin distribution that resulted in death from the use of such heroin.  Marion appeared today before the Honorable Rodney W. Sippel.           

According to court documents, co-defendant Lauren Martinez agreed to provide two individuals with heroin on February 26, 2016.  She contacted her source, Marion, who met Martinez in the parking lot of a White Castle restaurant in St. Charles, Missouri.  There, Marion provided heroin to Martinez, who then provided it to the victim.  At the time she distributed the heroin, Martinez described it as “strong” and cautioned the victim to be careful.  During a later interview, Martinez admitted that she knew multiple people who had overdosed on heroin. 

Despite learning of the individual’s death, Martinez and Marion continued to distribute heroin in the subsequent weeks and months.  As part of the on-going investigation into the heroin-related death, investigators arranged and made a controlled purchased of heroin from Marion and Martinez in March 2016.  On May 9, 2016, Marion was arrested for possession of heroin and a firearm.

Marion pleaded guilty to one count of distributing heroin resulting in death in February and Martinez pleaded guilty to one count of heroin distribution in February and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 13.               

The O’Fallon Police Department and the St. Charles County Regional Drug Task investigated this case.

Updated September 12, 2019

Topic
Opioids