Former St. Louis City Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Weapons Charges

St. Louis, MO – Former St. Louis City Police Officer DON McGHEE pled guilty to charges of providing a firearm to known drug dealers to facilitate their distribution of crack cocaine and marijuana in the City of St. Louis.

According to court documents, McGhee was a St. Louis Metropolitan Police Officer, assigned as a Patrolman in the Sixth District. Officer McGhee knew and associated with individuals who stored and distributed quantities of crack cocaine and marijuana in and from a house located on Cottage Avenue, in the City of St. Louis. On March 2, 2014, Officer McGhee took a Mossberg 12-gauge pistol grip shotgun to the Cottage Avenue drug house and gave it to one of the drug dealers knowing, believing or having reason to believe that the drug dealer would use the shotgun in relation to and in furtherance of the drug trafficking. During the execution of a search warrant at the Cottage Avenue house several days later, law enforcement officers recovered the Mossberg pistol grip shotgun, fully loaded, along with several other firearms, ammunition, quantities of crack cocaine and marijuana and a large amount of cash.

McGhee, St. Louis City, pled guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to possess a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime before United States District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig.  Sentencing has been set for July 14, 2015.

This charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000. In determining the actual sentence, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.

United States Attorney Richard Callahan noted that this investigation originated with the St. Louis City Police Department, which then partnered with additional law enforcement agencies as its investigation expanded.  In addition to the St. Louis City Police Department, the case is also being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorney Hal Goldsmith is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.