A rapper from St. Louis, Missouri has admitted to charges related to drug trafficking and firearm possession. Antonio Harris, 27, known by his stage name "LA4ss," entered a guilty plea to possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and as a convicted felon. Harris confessed to being found with fentanyl and a firearm by police.
The events that led to the charges occurred on February 16, 2022. Officers from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department attempted a traffic stop on North Broadway in the Baden neighborhood. Harris, driving a Toyota Corolla, attempted to evade the police, leading to a pursuit. Despite officers deploying spike strips, Harris continued to drive at high speed on Riverview Drive, passing vehicles on the shoulder and swerving into oncoming traffic. The pursuit ended when Harris collided with a retaining wall while trying to turn onto Spring Garden Drive.
After the crash, Harris fled on foot, leaving behind a loaded Glock 9mm pistol in the vehicle. As he ran, he dropped a bag containing 394 fentanyl capsules and additional plastic baggies of the drug, totaling nearly 40 grams. Being a convicted felon, Harris is legally prohibited from firearm possession.
Sentencing for Harris is scheduled for August. The charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison. The felon in possession charge could result in up to 10 years in prison.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department conducted the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Martin is handling the prosecution. The case contributes to Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence in communities. The Department of Justice launched a strategy on May 26, 2021, to enhance PSN, focusing on trust in communities, support for violence prevention organizations, strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.
