Two men have pleaded guilty to charges related to a drug conspiracy in St. Louis involving fentanyl and other controlled substances. Dennis M. Davis, 47, entered his plea on Thursday to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl. Shem J. Guy, 34, pleaded guilty in June to a similar charge. Both admitted their involvement in a drug distribution operation that began at least as early as 2019.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) led the investigation with support from several agencies. According to authorities, DEA special agents intercepted communications between Davis, Guy, and others about buying and selling drugs. On September 6, 2023, investigators executed a court-approved search at a property used by Davis in St. Louis. They found $12,323 in cash, four rifles, two pistols, a money counter, and significant quantities of drugs: 4.9 kilograms of fentanyl, nearly one pound of marijuana, 285 grams of heroin, 168 grams of cocaine, 127 grams of cocaine base, and 137 grams of methamphetamine. Additional firearms and fentanyl were recovered from Davis’ residence.
Davis is scheduled for sentencing on January 15, 2026; he faces between ten years and life in prison along with a possible fine up to $5 million. Guy will be sentenced on October 1 and could receive up to twenty years in prison or a fine up to $1 million or both.
Both defendants agreed to forfeit cash seized during the investigation as well as firearms and a 2020 Ram 1500 Big Horn truck.
Multiple law enforcement agencies participated in the case: the DEA; Internal Revenue Service; FBI; St. Louis County Police Department; Bridgeton Police Department; St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department; and St. Charles County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Delworth is prosecuting.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation—a multi-agency effort aimed at disrupting major criminal organizations using intelligence-driven strategies led by prosecutors across various federal agencies (https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF).
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