Overdose Death of JoCo Teen Leads To Dealer’s Indictment

An Independence, Missouri, man was indicted by a federal grand jury yesterday for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and illegally possessing firearms. The overdose death of a Johnson County teen on February 22, 2024, launched a federal investigation that led to the indictment by a federal grand jury.

According to the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Missouri, Demarkus Q. Shelton, 44, was charged with a 16-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury on August 29, 2024. The indictment replaces the federal criminal complaint filed against Shelton on August 2, 2024, and includes additional charges.

According to the Attorney's Office, investigators found that the overdose victim was among several Johnson County youths who had purchased fentanyl from Shelton earlier that day.

An affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint says evidence at the scene included fentanyl and smoking paraphernalia, which indicated the victim was using fentanyl before his death. An autopsy confirmed the cause of death to be the toxic effects of fentanyl.

Additionally, the affidavit cites a series of controlled purchases from Shelton that resulted in the seizure of over 95 grams of raw fentanyl, as well as the sale of a Palmetto State Armory AR model multi-caliber firearm with a 30-round magazine. The affidavit says Shelton was usually armed with a handgun with a drum magazine or an AK-47 or AR-style rifle.

On August 5, 2024, officers executed a search warrant of the hotel room where Shelton was arrested on the complaint. Officers found two semi-automatic handguns in the room, which is a violation of federal law for Shelton to possess because of his prior felony convictions.

Shelton has been indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, seven counts of distributing fentanyl, six counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashleigh A. Ragner is prosecuting the case, which the Jackson County Drug Task Force and the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated.