Show-Me State Times

A man who led a drug trafficking organization responsible for bringing large amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine into the St. Louis area has been sentenced to 27 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark handed down the sentence on Tuesday to Stephen Griffin Jr., 51, who received a 25-year term for his role in the case filed in 2021, plus an additional two years for violating supervised release from a previous heroin trafficking conviction.

The investigation resulted in charges against 20 individuals connected to the organization. Troy Mills, 22, identified as Griffin’s top lieutenant, was also sentenced Tuesday to 16 years for conspiracy to distribute meth and fentanyl and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Crystal Miller, 37, of Florissant, who managed stash houses used by the group, was sentenced last December to 20 years. Twelve others have already been sentenced; five more are scheduled for sentencing later this year.

Authorities seized about 39 firearms, nearly 500 pounds of methamphetamine, over 49 pounds of fentanyl, approximately $500,000 in assets, several vehicles, ammunition and other drugs during their investigation.

Griffin pleaded guilty in April to multiple counts related to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl as well as possession of a firearm during drug trafficking. He admitted that he was part of an operation that transported drugs from Arizona and California into Missouri using both mail shipments and couriers. The group used “stash” houses and a home health care business located in Northwoods as bases for storing drugs and proceeds as well as coordinating sales.

In March 2021, Griffin was arrested while leaving one such apartment with about one kilogram of methamphetamine, a firearm and several cell phones. Investigators found additional drugs and equipment inside.

“Stephen Griffin rolled the dice when he started pushing fentanyl and methamphetamine in the St. Louis region,” Drug Enforcement Administration St. Louis Division Special Agent in Charge Michael Davis said. “His selfish greed destroyed families who were impacted by the fallout of his poisonous sales. Today, he faces the consequences of those actions. Griffin’s 21 years in federal prison will allow him plenty of time to reflect on the lives he ruined, including his own.”

“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service mission is to protect the nation’s mail system. With the collaborative efforts of our federal law enforcement partners, Postal Inspectors investigate those utilizing the U.S. Mail for illicit activities, including the distribution of narcotics. Today’s sentencing reflects the diligent investigative work by Postal Inspectors and our law enforcement partners,” said Inspector in Charge Ruth Mendonça.

The case was investigated by agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and U.S. Marshals Service with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Casey.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation designed to target major criminal organizations through coordinated efforts among multiple agencies across jurisdictions.