A 44-year-old Columbia, Missouri, man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for a multi-state crime spree involving drug trafficking and firearm possession, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Walter Antwine Moore received a 180-month sentence from U.S. District Judge Greg Kays following guilty pleas to drug distribution and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
The legal proceedings consolidated crimes committed across three different jurisdictions between late 2022 and early 2023.
The earliest incident occurred on December 6, 2022, at a casino in Quapaw, Oklahoma. After losing over $1,000 at a blackjack table, Moore became belligerent toward a dealer and made threats involving “yellow police tape and sirens.” When Quapaw Marshals attempted a pat-down, Moore reached into his jacket and tried to flee. During a struggle with deputies, a baggie in Moore’s possession burst, scattering 913 blue fentanyl pills across the floor.
A month later, on January 7, 2023, police in St. Joseph, Missouri, responded to a convenience store report of a man stealing potato chips and attempting to sell drugs. Upon searching Moore’s vehicle, officers discovered:
- 284.8 grams of methamphetamine
- A loaded Glock .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun
- Numerous clear plastic baggies used for distribution
The final confrontation took place on February 10, 2023, at a train station in Kansas City, Missouri. When interdiction detectives questioned Moore upon his arrival, he became confrontational and attempted to run. After being tackled by tactical officers, investigators recovered a cellophane-wrapped bundle nearby containing approximately 2,300 fentanyl pills.
The case was a collaborative effort between the Western District of Missouri and the Northern District of Oklahoma. The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the DEA, ATF, the Quapaw Nation Marshals Service, and various regional drug task forces. Moore was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Trey Alford and Adam McConney.
