St. Louis Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun and Drug Offenses

EAST  ST.  LOUIS,  Ill.  –  Lamondra  Beckley,  43,  of  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  pleaded  guilty  
today  to
possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a 
drug trafficking offense, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Beckley has 
been under federal indictment since April 6.

As part of his guilty plea, Beckley admitted that on March 11, 2021, he possessed approximately 114 
grams  of  methamphetamine,  which  he  intended  to  sell  to  a  customer  at  a  gas  station  
in  Fairview Heights, Illinois, before being arrested by DEA agents. At the time of his arrest, 
Beckley also possessed a Taurus Model 709 Slim handgun. Beckley has a prior felony conviction that 
prohibits him from lawfully possessing a firearm.

Sentencing is scheduled for November 10 at 10:00 a.m. in East St. Louis. Under federal law, Beckley 
faces at least 5 years imprisonment. United States District Judge David W. Dugan will determine any 
sentence after considering the federal sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

Beckley is one of two co-defendants named in the indictment. The other man – Deandre Young, 42, of 
St. Louis – is charged with aiding and abetting Beckley in the possession of methamphetamine with 
intent to distribute and with possessing a Beretta Model .25 Panther handgun in furtherance of the 
offense.  Young’s  trial  is  scheduled  for  October  4.  Members  of  the  public  are  reminded  
that  an indictment is merely a formal charge, and all criminal defendants are presumed innocent 
until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case against Beckley and Young is being investigated by the DEA in Fairview Heights.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel T. Kapsak is prosecuting the case.