A St. Louis man was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison for leading a drug trafficking organization that brought large amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine into the region. U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark issued the sentence to Stephen Griffin Jr., 51, on Tuesday. Griffin received a 25-year sentence for his main case, which began in 2021, and an additional two years for violating supervised release from a previous heroin trafficking conviction in 2015.
The investigation resulted in indictments against 20 individuals connected to the operation. Troy Mills, identified as Griffin’s top lieutenant, was also sentenced Tuesday to 16 years in prison after being convicted of conspiracy charges involving meth and fentanyl, as well as possession of a firearm by a felon. Crystal Miller of Florissant, who managed stash houses for the group, was sentenced last December to 20 years in prison. Twelve others have been sentenced so far; five remaining defendants are scheduled for sentencing later this year.
Authorities seized significant quantities during their investigation: about 39 firearms, nearly 500 pounds of methamphetamine, over $500,000 in assets, along with substantial amounts of heroin and fentanyl.
Griffin pleaded guilty earlier this year to multiple counts related to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and possessing a firearm during drug trafficking. He admitted his role in bringing drugs from Arizona and California into eastern Missouri through various means—including mail shipments sent to “stash” houses where drugs were prepared for sale. The group also used a home health care business as its operational base for coordinating shipments and handling proceeds.
In March 2021, law enforcement arrested Griffin leaving an apartment with one kilogram of methamphetamine, a firearm, and several cell phones; further search uncovered more drugs and equipment inside.
“Stephen Griffin rolled the dice when he started pushing fentanyl and methamphetamine in the St. Louis region,” Drug Enforcement Administration St. Louis Division Special Agent in Charge Michael Davis said. “His selfish greed destroyed families who were impacted by the fallout of his poisonous sales. Today, he faces the consequences of those actions. Griffin’s 21 years in federal prison will allow him plenty of time to reflect on the lives he ruined, including his own.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service mission is to protect the nation’s mail system. With the collaborative efforts of our federal law enforcement partners, Postal Inspectors investigate those utilizing the U.S. Mail for illicit activities, including the distribution of narcotics. Today’s sentencing reflects the diligent investigative work by Postal Inspectors and our law enforcement partners,” said Inspector in Charge Ruth Mendonça.
The case was investigated by multiple agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and U.S. Marshals Service; Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Casey prosecuted it.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) initiative focused on disrupting major criminal organizations using coordinated efforts across agencies.
