Columbia Man Sentenced for Meth, Fentanyl, and Illegal Firearm (DOJ)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Columbia, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking offense in St. Joseph, Mo.; transporting approximately 2,300 fentanyl pills at a train station in Kansas City, Mo.; and for possession with intent to distribute another 913 fentanyl pills in Quapaw, Okla.

Walter Antwine Moore, 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 180 months' imprisonment based on his guilty pleas to two counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking.

According to court documents, law enforcement officers contacted Moore when he arrived at a train station in Kansas City, Mo., on Feb. 10, 2023. Moore became confrontational with the detective who questioned him and attempted to flee on foot. He was tackled by the detective and detained with the assistance of other detectives and tactical response officers. Officers found a bundle wrapped in clear cellophane on the floor close to where Moore was detained. The bundle, contained approximately 2,300 fentanyl pills.

Moore had also been detained by law enforcement officers in St. Joseph, Mo., on Jan. 7, 2023. According to court documents, St. Joseph police officers were dispatched to a convenience store to investigate a report of a man who reportedly stole a bag of potato chips and was trying to sell drugs. Officers searched his vehicle and found a baggy that contained numerous clear plastic baggies with a total of 284.8 grams of methamphetamine. Officers also found a loaded Glock .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun in the car.

On Dec. 6, 2022, Moore was gambling at a casino in Quapaw, Okla. After quickly losing over $1,000 at a blackjack table, Moore became belligerent with a female blackjack dealer. Moore began cursing at her, making vague threats, and reaching into his coat as if he was armed. The pit boss asked him to leave, and Moore stated if he left it would involve "yellow police tape and lights and sirens." The pit boss then summoned the Deputy Quapaw Marshals. Moore was asked to do a pat-down for the officer's safety. Moore refused and reached his right hand into his jacket. Moore ultimately took his hand out of his jacket and the deputy noticed a baggie in Moore's hand that appeared to have something blue inside of it. Moore then tried to push past the deputy and run. The deputy took Moore to the ground and they began to scuffle. During the melee, the bag exploded and small pills scattered. In total, casino staff recovered 913 blue pills marked with an "M" printed on one side and "30" printed on the other side of the pill. The pills later tested positive for the presence of fentanyl. This case was initially charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma. Pursuant to a plea agreement, this case was transferred to the Western District of Missouri and the defendant pleaded guilty to the charge.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam McConney. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration's Missouri Interdiction and Narcotics Task Force (MoWIN), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Northwest Missouri Drug Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration in Oklahoma, and the Quapaw Nation Marshals Service.

Operation Take Back America

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.