Two Men Charged In Connection With Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Resulting In Death Of Victim

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Missouri:

January 28, 2021

ST. LOUIS – A federal grand jury indicted 25-year-old Cevone Weeden and 35-year-old Herschell Perkins on one count, each, of discharge of one or more firearms in furtherance of the commission of a drug trafficking crime causing death. The same federal grand jury also indicted Weeden on one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess, with the intent to distribute, controlled substances, including fentanyl.

According to charging documents, on or about August 20, 2020, Weeden coordinated with an associate to learn the whereabouts of the victim, who had robbed Weeden of a quantity of narcotics two days prior during a drug deal. Upon learning of the victim’s location on North Hampton Avenue near I-64, Weeden contacted Perkins, who drove the two to this location.

Weeden and Perkins proceeded to drive to various parking lots and side streets in the victim’s immediate vicinity. Shortly before the shooting, Perkins removed the license plates from his vehicle and Weeden turned his phone off. Just after 8:00 p.m., Perkins pulled his vehicle onto a side street across from the victim’s location, at which point Weeden emerged from this same location, crossed Hampton Avenue on foot and shot the victim multiple times while he sat in his vehicle. Weeden then returned to Perkins’ vehicle and the two fled the area.

The defendants face a maximum punishment of life in prison, death, and/or a fine of up to $250,000.

Charges set forth in the indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, along with the Drug Enforcement Administration, investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Geoffrey Ogden is handling the case.

This press release was produced by the US Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Missouri. The views expressed here are the author’s own.