U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig sentenced Antonio Dixson, a convicted felon from St. Louis, to 14 years in prison after he was caught twice with firearms and drugs. The February trial revealed that on December 1, 2020, Dixson was found with two guns and various drugs in Wentzville, Missouri. He was initially spotted in the rear seat of a Honda SUV that had previously fled from St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers.
Upon exiting the vehicle, a Glock pistol fell from Dixson's waist, and a Taurus Judge revolver was seen protruding from his pocket. Authorities discovered ammunition and drugs on him, including clonazepam laced with PCP, para-fluorofentanyl mixtures, fentanyl tablets, cocaine, and crystal methamphetamine. Additionally, six cellular phones and over $700 in cash were found in his possession. Due to COVID-era restrictions at the time, Dixson was booked and released.
Despite this arrest, Dixson was apprehended again on February 25, 2021. Officers stopped him driving a Mercury Villager the wrong way on a one-way street in St. Louis. They found more firearms—a .45 caliber Colt model 1911 and a 9mm Smith & Wesson pistol—and drugs including meth tablets and crystal meth.
The sentencing memorandum highlighted the danger posed by Dixson's possession of weapons and drugs to public safety. It noted his extensive criminal history over the past 19 years during which he spent more than 16 years incarcerated or under court supervision.
In February, jurors convicted Dixson on multiple counts: two for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances; two for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; two for being a felon in possession of a firearm; and one for possession of a defaced firearm.
The investigation involved the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives alongside local police departments from Wentzville and St. Louis Metropolitan areas. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Dunkel and Hal Goldsmith led the prosecution.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aiming to reduce violent crime through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and community groups. The Department launched an enhanced strategy for PSN on May 26, 2021, focusing on trust-building within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, prioritizing strategic enforcement actions, and evaluating outcomes.
