A high school baseball coach from Illinois has been indicted on federal drug trafficking charges. Demetrius Combs, 33, of Sauget, Illinois, was charged in U.S. District Court in St. Louis with several offenses related to the distribution and possession of fentanyl and methamphetamine, as well as firearm possession connected to drug trafficking.
According to the indictment issued on August 27, Combs faces one count of distribution of fentanyl, two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The alleged offenses occurred between June and August 2023.
Combs was arrested on September 25 and has pleaded not guilty.
A detention motion filed by prosecutors states that an undercover officer from the St. Louis County Police Department purchased fentanyl from Combs once and methamphetamine twice. During a search approved by the court at Combs’ home in Bellefontaine Neighbors, police reportedly found $3,746 in cash and capsules containing fentanyl. In his car, officers discovered a pistol, three cell phones, and additional capsules with fentanyl. The search also revealed multiple firearms—one equipped with an auto sear device converting it into a fully automatic weapon—two more cell phones, thousands more dollars in cash, a pill press machine, quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine, as well as other drug paraphernalia.
Authorities emphasize that "charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty."
The investigation was conducted by the St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Christian Goeke is handling prosecution for the case.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative coordinated by the Department of Justice aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protecting communities from violent crime by integrating resources from various law enforcement task forces.
