CAPE GIRARDEAU — A Poplar Bluff man was sentenced to nearly five years in federal prison Wednesday afternoon for distributing heroin.
Quinton J. Williams was sentenced to 57 months on the felony of aiding and abetting in the distribution of heroin and two felonies of distribution of heroin by Judge Stephen Limbaugh Jr., according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Koester.
Williams has “several outstanding state charges, and (Limbaugh) ordered (his sentence) to run consecutive to any other sentences he has” through state court, Koester said.
With his July plea, Williams admitted on Sept. 6, 2018, SEMO Drug Task Force officers were using a confidential informant (CI) to attempt to purchase heroin from him.
“The CI called Williams on Williams’ cellphone and requested to purchase 2 grams of heroin,” the plea agreement signed by William says. “Williams replied that he only had a gram and half of heroin to sell and that he would have to call his supplier to get more.”
The CI reportedly waited for a while, then called Williams’ cellphone again.
“Kyra R. Taylor answered the phone and spoke to the CI,” the plea agreement further says. “Taylor stated that the price was $180 per gram.
“Taylor asked the CI how much heroin the CI wanted.”
The CI reportedly told Taylor they wanted 2 grams of heroin for $360.
“Taylor said she would have to order the heroin and that Williams would handle the transaction,” according to the plea agreement.
The CI reportedly met with Williams and gave him $360. Williams then gave the CI a substance wrapped in two plastic bags.
The substance later was analyzed at a Missouri State Highway Patrol lab, and one bag was found to contain .42 grams of heroin, while the other contained 1.42 grams of Fentanyl.
In pleading guilty, Williams also admitted to distributing heroin on Aug. 13, 2018.
On that date, SEMO Drug Task Force officers again were attempting to purchase heroin from Williams using a CI.
“The CI called Williams on Williams’ cellphone regarding the purchase,” the plea agreement says. “Williams agreed to sell 1 gram of heroin to the CI for $100.”
The CI and Williams met at an agreed upon location in Butler County.
While there, Williams handed a packet containing a substance to the CI, who gave Williams $100 in cash.
When the substance later was analyzed, it was found to contain .94 grams of heroin.
On Nov. 14, Task Force officers again used a CI to purchase some “tar” heroin from Williams for $360. Lab analysis of the purchased substance showed it contained 3.47 grams of heroin.
Taylor also pleaded guilty in federal court and was sentenced in September to 30 months in prison for the felonies of aiding and abetting in the distribution of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to distribute (two counts), possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute (two counts) and distribution of heroin by Limbaugh.