CAPE GIRARDEAU — Two Poplar Bluff women appeared in federal court this week on charges they distributed illegal narcotics, including heroin and Fentanyl.
On Tuesday afternoon, Shanesha R. Burns pleaded guilty as charged to three felonies of distribution of methamphetamine, distribution of a controlled substance and distribution of heroin before U.S. District Judge John A. Ross, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Sorrell.
Burns’ plea came one day after her codefendant, Tara L. Slavings, appeared in court for sentencing, having earlier pleaded guilty to distribution of a controlled substance.
The agreed-upon facts of Burns’ case say on July 17, 2018, law enforcement officers used a confidential informant (CI) to attempt to purchase controlled substances from Burns.
“On that date, the CI contacted Burns on Burns’ cellphone and requested the purchase of 7 grams of methamphetamine,” according to the plea agreement signed by Burns. “Burns agreed to the sale for $175 and agreed to meet the CI at a location in Butler County.”
At the appointed time and place, Burns reportedly drove a vehicle to the location and met with the CI.
“Burns then provided a crystalline substance to the CI in exchange for $175 in cash,” the plea agreement further says. “The CI then turned the substance over to the officers.”
When the crystalline substance was tested at a Missouri State Highway Patrol crime laboratory, it was found to weigh 6.88 grams and contain methamphetamine.
On Jan. 3, a CI contacted Burns by text message to arrange the purchase of 1 gram of heroin for $100.
“Burns agreed to make the sale,” her plea agreement says. “Instead of coming herself, Burns sent her associate, Tara Slavings, to make the sale.”
Slavings, according to Burns’ plea agreement, as well as her own, drove to a location in Butler County for the sale.
“Slavings met with the CI and gave the CI a crystalline substance in exchange for $100,” Burns’ plea agreement said.
Slavings then reportedly left in her vehicle, and the CI turned the substance over to officers.
When tested at a highway patrol crime lab, the substance was found to be .22 grams of Fentanyl.
On Jan. 25, the same CI again contacted Burn, requesting to purchase a gram of heroin.
“Burns agreed to make the sale for $140 and specified a location in Butler County” for the sale, her plea agreement says.
After arriving by vehicle, Burns reportedly met the CI and provided a crystalline substance to the CI in exchange for $140.
That crystalline substance was turned over to officers and later tested. It was found to be .47 grams containing heroin.
“At each sale of a controlled substance, Shanesha R. Burns knew that the substance involved in each of the three sales … was a controlled substance,” the plea agreement said.
After accepting Burns’ plea, Sorrell said, Ross set her sentencing for Dec. 16.
At that time, Burns faces up to of 20 years in prison on each of her counts, followed by a three-year period of supervised release.
Slavings, Sorrell said, was sentenced to six months in federal prison by Ross.
Upon Slavings’ release, Sorrell said, she will be placed on a three-year period of supervised released and will reside for four months in a halfway house.