CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — A Poplar Bluff man pleaded guilty Wednesday afternoon in federal court to three counts of distributing heroin.
Quinton J. Williams pleaded guilty as charged to the felony of aiding and abetting in the distribution of heroin and two felonies of distribution of heroin before Judge Stephen Limbaugh Jr., according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Sorrell.
As part of his plea agreement, signed Sorrell, Williams and his attorney, Jacob Zimmerman, Williams admitted to the elements of the three offenses.
The agreed-upon facts of the case say on Sept. 16, SEMO Drug Task Force officers were using a confidential informant (CI) to attempt to purchase heroin from Williams.
“The CI called Williams on Williams’ cellphone and requested to purchase 2 grams of heroin,” the plea agreement 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 drove over to a residence in Poplar Bluff and met with Quinton J. Williams.”
The CI reportedly gave $360 to Williams, who then gave the CI a substance wrapped in two plastic bags.
The substance was turned over to officers and later analyzed at a Missouri State Highway Patrol lab.
One bag contained .42 grams of heroin, while the other contained 1.42 grams of Fentanyl.
Taylor earlier pleaded guilty to the felony of aiding and abetting the distribution of heroin and admitted to the same facts as Williams.
In pleading guilty, Williams also admitted to distributing heroin on Aug. 13.
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 purchases,” 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.
At the time of her earlier plea, Taylor also pleaded guilty to the felonies of possession of heroin with intent to distribute (two counts), possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute (two counts) and distribution of heroin.
Taylor, according to the plea agreement she signed, admitted to possessing heroin and methamphetamine on April 7, 2018.
On that date, a patrol trooper stopped a vehicle in Butler County for an expired license plate. The driver was identified as Williams, and Taylor was a passenger.
“During a subsequent search of the vehicle, the officer found marijuana, an electronic scale and other drug paraphernalia,” the plea agreement says. “Taylor told the officer that the residue on the electronic scale was most likely heroin.”
Taylor was arrested and booked at the Butler County jail.
“When Taylor changed into her jail clothing, the jailers discovered that (she) had some Baggies of controlled substances in her clothing,” the plea agreement further said.
Lab analysis confirmed four of the bags contained methamphetamine, weighing 13.36 grams, and another contained .39 grams of heroin.
Taylor reportedly admitted she knew the bags contained meth and heroin, and it was her intentions to distribute the substances.
With her plea, Taylor further admitted on Sept. 24, SEMO Drug Task Force officers used a CI to buy a half gram of heroin from her for $100.
The sale reportedly took place at Taylor’s home. The purchased substance was found to contain .32 grams of heroin.
On Nov. 14, Task Force officers contacted Taylor at a Poplar Bluff motel.
A search warrant reportedly was sought and executed on the room.
“During the search, the officers found and seized two Baggies from the refrigerator in the room,” the plea agreement says.
The bags were found to contain 36 grams of heroin and 28 grams of methamphetamine.
Taylor reportedly initially told officers she had been given the drugs to hold for another man, but “later stated that Quinton J. Williams had brought the substances to the room,” the plea agreement further said.
Taylor admitted to knowing the heroin and meth were in the room and that she had intentions of distributing the substances.
As part of Williams’ plea agreement, he admitted he provided the drugs found in the motel to Taylor.
Taylor and Williams, according to Sorrell, pleaded guilty to the each sale and distribution they were involved in.
Sorrell said another felony of conspiracy to distribute heroin that both Williams and Taylor were facing is expected to be dismissed by the government at sentencing.
Limbaugh, Sorrell said, set Williams’ sentencing for 11:40 a.m. Oct. 16.
Taylor is to appear before Limbaugh for sentencing at 1:40 p.m. Sept. 25.
At that time, Williams and Taylor both face up to 20 years in prison on each charge.