St. Louis Man Sentenced to Prison for Large Scale Fentanyl Distribution Scheme

St. Louis, MO – Walter D. Justiniano, 42, of St. Louis, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and possessing with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.  He appeared in federal court today before U.S. District Court Judge John Ross.

According to court documents, in 2016 the Drug Enforcement Administration, St. Louis, Missouri office initiated an investigation into a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) that was distributing large quantities of fentanyl and cocaine in the Eastern District of Missouri.  Through investigative means, investigators learned that Gerald Hunter was the out of state supplier of these illegal drugs.  On April 27, 2017, investigators learned that Hunter was arriving in St. Louis from Los Angeles, California.  Investigators conducted surveillance and observed Kashita Webb, Gerald Hunter, and Walter Justiniano as they traveled to a storage unit located in Florissant, Missouri.  Investigators watched as Hunter and Justiniano exited the storage unit carrying two large bags to a waiting vehicle.  Investigators suspected the bags contained illegal drugs and attempted to stop Hunter, Justiniano, and Webb.  Hunter dropped the bags and fled on foot, and Webb was detained at the vehicle.  Justiniano attempted to flee the area on foot but was located and arrested.  Investigators determined the bags carried by Hunter contained approximately twenty-seven (27) heat-sealed packages containing 26.5 kilograms of fentanyl.  Investigators processed one of the packages of fentanyl and identified Hunter’s and Justiniano’s fingerprints on the package. 

“Every day across the state of Missouri and beyond, the men and women of the DEA are fighting to get dangerous drugs off our streets,” said Special Agent in Charge William J. Callahan of the Drug Enforcement Administration St. Louis Division.  “Today’s sentencing is just another reminder that no matter where a trafficker lives or a shipment originates, we will find the drug trafficking organization, we will dismantle it and we will bring those responsible for bringing poison into our communities back to St. Louis to seek justice.”

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.   Assistant United States Attorney Erin Granger is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney's Office.