A St. Louis man has been sentenced to over 15 years in federal prison for drug trafficking and shooting at an undercover police officer during a narcotics investigation.
Anthony Stallworth, 26, received a sentence of 15 years and five months from U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig on Wednesday. The sentencing follows his guilty plea in June to multiple charges including possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, distribution of fentanyl, and discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents, on October 10, 2019, Stallworth sold fentanyl capsules to an undercover officer from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Five days later, during another attempted purchase arranged by the officer, Stallworth led the officer to a new location. After stopping his vehicle suddenly, he fired two shots at the officer's car before fleeing the scene.
In summer 2023, police surveillance observed Stallworth conducting drug transactions in St. Louis’s Wilcox Avenue area. A subsequent search found him in possession of large amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl, cash, a firearm, and drug paraphernalia.
“Stallworth armed himself with firearms and even opened fire on undercover officers, showing a blatant disregard for human life,” said Special Agent in Charge Bernard “Butch” Hansen of the Kansas City Field Division. “Combined with the large quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine he was trafficking, his actions put our entire community at risk. Today’s sentence holds him accountable for the violence he chose and for flooding our streets with deadly drugs and guns. ATF will continue working with our partners to protect families and neighborhoods from offenders who endanger public safety.”
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski prosecuted.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that brings together law enforcement agencies at all levels to reduce violent crime through coordinated strategies focusing on community trust building and strategic enforcement priorities. The Department of Justice enhanced its approach to PSN beginning May 26, 2021 as part of its ongoing effort against gun violence.
