Four Jefferson County men have been accused of selling drugs and guns in St. Louis and Fenton, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reported.
Donye “El Baggo” Peace, 19, of High Ridge; Anneyus D. James, 18, of Festus; Otis M. Patterson, 21, of Fenton; and Theodore Bradford, 18, whose town was not available, were indicted Oct. 19 in the U.S. District Court of Eastern Missouri in St. Louis, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The four allegedly engaged in illegal drug and gun dealings in August and September, the report said.
Peace allegedly advertised the sale of illegal drugs and guns on Instagram, and when he met prospective buyers, James, Patterson or Bradford would stand guard. Because Peace was allegedly selling guns through a social media site, he was allowing buyers to avoid background checks required by licensed firearm dealers, assistant U.S. attorney Ryan Finlen said in court.
Peace was charged with four counts of distribution of cocaine, two counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime and one count of unlicensed firearm trafficking. He pleaded not guilty to the charges on Oct. 27, court records show.
James was charged with one count of distribution of cocaine. He pleaded not guilty to the charge Nov. 1, according to court records.
Patterson was charged with one count of distribution of cocaine, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime and one count of unlicensed firearm trafficking. He pleaded not guilty to the charges on Oct. 27, court records said.
Bradford was charged with one count of distribution of cocaine, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime and one count of unlicensed firearm trafficking. He pleaded not guilty to the charges on Oct. 28, court records said.
The drug charges are punishable by up to 20 years in prison, and the gun charges are punishable by up to five years in prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case, and undercover agents allegedly purchased drugs and guns from Peace and Patterson while Bradford stood guard with an AR-15, the detention motion said.