Irven L. White was sentenced on Mar. 10 to 200 months in prison after being caught twice with guns and drugs on the same block in St. Louis, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address repeat offenders involved in drug and firearm crimes in the city.
Evidence presented at White’s trial showed that on Nov. 1, 2023, a St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officer observed White conducting what appeared to be a hand-to-hand drug transaction in the 4400 block of Farlin Avenue. When officers approached, White fled and discarded a firearm but was quickly detained. Officers recovered fentanyl, cocaine, and cocaine base during the arrest.
On August 26, 2024, police were again alerted that White—who had an outstanding warrant related to the November incident—was conducting another suspected drug transaction on the same block. He fled from officers once more, leaving behind a bag containing two firearms before being arrested at a nearby home where additional fentanyl and cocaine base were found.
White has multiple prior felony convictions that prohibit him from possessing firearms. Among these is a conviction for second degree murder stemming from a drug-related shooting on Aug. 4, 1997, also in the 4400 block of Farlin Avenue. At the time of his November arrest, he was on supervised release following a federal conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm—a crime committed previously on the same street.
White was found guilty at trial of six felonies: two counts each of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The investigation was conducted by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Goeke prosecuted the case.
