Judge sentences Florissant man for distribution of fentanyl causing death

ST. LOUIS – United States District Judge Rodney W. Sippel sentenced Raymond L. Young, today, to 216 months in prison. The 35-year-old Florissant, Missouri resident, pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of a controlled substance.

In December 2018, Florissant Police responded to the 2300 block of Palomino and found a person, J.S., unresponsive. Police took J.S. to a hospital where doctors pronounced him dead. After a medical examiner’s investigation, the medical examiner determined J.S. died as a result of  ‘fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl intoxication.’ Police also learned that another individual, L.M., had been with J.S. that same evening, and that L.M. was involved in an automobile crash after leaving J.S.  L.M. was determined to be overdosing and, after officers administered Narcan, he was taken to a hospital where his blood work revealed the presence of fentanyl and acetyl-fentanyl. Through their subsequent investigation, police learned that J.S. and L.M. had used what they thought was cocaine that evening after a friend had purchased it from Raymond Young. 

On February 6, 2019, officers executed a search warrant at Raymond Young’s residence in the 3600 block of Browning.  Officers located Raymond Young in the residence, and recovered a drug ledger, marijuana, $124,538.00 in currency and approximately one ounce of heroin.  Young subsequently admitted to selling the controlled substance which both J.S. and L.M. ingested, causing J.S.’ death and L.M.’s serious illness.

The Florissant Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Sirena Wissler handled this case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.