ST. LOUIS COUNTY (KMOX) - A man authorities say is the leader of a drug trafficking organization that distributed cocaine all over the St. Louis area has pleaded guilty.
Ronald ‘Big Stink’ Gales, 54, of St. Louis faces a minimum term of imprisonment of ten years and a maximum term of life in prison. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The U.S. Attorney of Eastern Missouri says he will face sentencing on Sept. 28.
The FBI and St. Louis County Police have been investigating Gales since 2018 as the principal supplier of a drug trafficking organization supplying cocaine to other distributors operating in the St. Louis area. Investigators conducted controlled purchases of cocaine from his operation before ultimately executing a federal search warrant at his home in October of 2019.
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Investigators found two .40 caliber handguns, $46,000 in cash, and drug trafficking paraphernalia, as well as distribution quantities of cocaine and cocaine base in the search.
Assistant United States Attorney Lisa Yemm is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
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