A district court judge has sentenced two men from Houston, Texas, to federal prison for their involvement in burglarizing pharmacies of controlled substances in Casey, Illinois, and Poplar Bluff, Missouri. McKindley V. Allen, 32, and DaLeon J. Fontennet, 28, pleaded guilty to charges including conspiracy to commit burglary involving controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
Both individuals received a sentence of 100 months in prison. U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe commented on the impact of their actions: "Damaging and burglarizing locally-owned pharmacies that provide vital healthcare services impair rural communities and leave residents and employees without reliable support."
Court documents revealed that Allen and Fontennet unlawfully entered a pharmacy in Casey in December 2023 using a Sawzall to breach the exterior wall. The following month, they burglarized another pharmacy in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, stealing over 16,000 pills. Fontennet also admitted to burglarizing a pharmacy in Murphysboro, Illinois.
Joseph Dixon, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of DEA investigations in southern Illinois stated: “DEA has seen a surge in burglaries of controlled substances at independent, non-chain pharmacies, which rips at the core of communities across this country.” He added that the sentencing demonstrates DEA's commitment to addressing such crimes.
Allen confessed to conspiring with others to distribute stolen oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine after the burglaries. The investigation was led by DEA St. Louis and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Hudson.