Franklin County man pleads guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute meth
Also pleads guilty of felon in possession of a firearm
ST. LOUIS – Joshua Matthew Spencer, 30, of Franklin County, Missouri, pleaded guilty to his involvement in conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Spencer appeared in federal court today before United States District Judge John R. Ross who accepted his plea and set his sentencing date for June 10, 2020.
According to the plea agreement, Spencer and his co-defendant, Reanna Danielle Campbell, were engaged in the sale of crystal methamphetamine in the St. Louis Metropolitan area, as well as in Franklin and Jefferson County, Missouri. Investigators conducted controlled buys of methamphetamine from Campbell and Spencer in and around the area.
During the course of the investigation, Spencer and Campbell crashed a vehicle while fleeing from police near the Interstate 44 entrance at South Elm Avenue in Webster, Missouri, and fled on foot. Two handguns were recovered by law enforcement near the scene of the crash and investigators seized five other firearms from the crashed vehicle, along with knives and additional firearms magazines and drug paraphernalia. Following the federal indictment in this case, Spencer was apprehended by the United States Marshals Service in possession of additional narcotics and another firearm.
Spencer faces a minimum term of 10 years and a maximum term of life imprisonment and a fine of not more than $10,000,000 on the charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000 on the charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.
The Multi-County Narcotics and Violent Crimes Enforcement Unit and the Drug Enforcement Administration St. Louis Division are investigating this case, with assistance from the Kirkwood and Webster Police Departments.
