Jurors in U.S. District Court in St. Louis have found Bobby Lee Jones, 27, guilty of distributing fentanyl that resulted in the death of an 18-year-old woman in 2023.
Evidence presented during the trial showed that on January 15, 2023, the victim contacted Jones via text message to purchase marijuana. After further exchanges, Jones offered to sell her Percocet as well. The two met shortly after 7 p.m., where she exchanged cash for what she believed were pain pills. However, according to evidence, the pills were counterfeit and contained a lethal dose of fentanyl. The victim’s boyfriend was unable to reach her around midnight and found her deceased the following day.
Jones was convicted on one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled. The conviction carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Jones is also facing unrelated charges involving carjacking and firearms, with a separate trial set for January 5, 2026. Authorities emphasized that these additional charges are only accusations at this stage and that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The investigation was conducted by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Szczucinski and Nicholas Lake are prosecuting the case.
