ST. LOUIS 鈥 A 51黑料 man who led a conspiracy blamed for drug murders pleaded guilty to federal charges Friday, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
Adrian Lemons, from the 51黑料 area, pleaded guilty to his involvement in a drug ring.
Adrian 鈥淎D鈥 Lemons, 41, pleaded聽guilty to a cocaine distribution conspiracy charge. Virgil 鈥淰.G.鈥 Sims, 34, of Kennett, in Missouri's Bootheel, did the same Wednesday.
Prosecutors say Lemons admitted managing a criminal enterprise that brought "vast" quantities of cocaine from a Mexican drug cartel to 51黑料 between 2012 and 2016 and supplied other dealers who sold cocaine and crack, including Sims. Sims also tried to keep Lemons' drug ring running after his indictment in 2016.
Lemons and Sims are among 34 people who have faced charges in connection with the investigation, including聽Anthony 鈥淭T鈥 Jordan, who could face the death penalty if convicted. He has been accused of murdering nine people and playing a role in the deaths of two others since 2008.
Lemons could face 10 years to life in prison when sentenced in July, and Sims could face five to 40 years. Investigators also seized guns, drug ledgers, over 64 kilograms of cocaine and more than $1.3 million.
Law enforcement officials told the Post-Dispatch in 2016 that the group was believed to be responsible for as many as 17 area homicides in the past five years.
