ST. LOUIS – A man has received 15 years in prison for charges related to dealing fentanyl and a fatal shooting, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in St. Louis.
Deoman Reeves, 32, was deemed guilty on 11 felony charges, including: four counts of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl; three counts of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm; one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking resulting in death; and one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute in excess of 40 grams of fentanyl.
A U.S. District judge sentenced Reeves to life in prison plus 15 years.
Evidence revealed Reeves shot David Anderson in October 2019 in response to a shooting in St. Louis County the day before. Anderson was not involved in the St. Louis County shooting, according to a release.
Reeves co-defendant, Franklin Bell, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Feb. 12. Bell pleaded guilty to a series of charges, including fentanyl distribution, possession of firearms, and more.
Bell also admitted that Reeves and another man, Arrion Jones, had been involved with selling fentanyl. ATF agents began going undercover after a non-fatal shooting, purchasing fentanyl and firearms from Reeves.
“This is a dangerous individual who has a callous disregard for human life,” Special Agent in Charge Bernard G. Hansen of the Kansas City Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) said in a release. “There is no higher priority for ATF than keeping our communities safe and we will use all available resources to identify and investigate those who commit violent acts. This sentence should send a message to others that violent behavior in our communities will not be tolerated.”
