KC Reporter

A Springfield, Missouri man was sentenced in federal court today for his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute valeryl fentanyl, an analogue of fentanyl, and for illegally possessing eight firearms.

Darrell L. Smith, 35, received a 20-year sentence from U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool without the possibility of parole.

Smith was found guilty on January 11, 2024, of one count of conspiracy to distribute a fentanyl analogue known as valeryl fentanyl, one count of possessing a fentanyl analogue with the intent to distribute, and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

Co-defendant Eugene C. Saunders, 51, also from Springfield, pleaded guilty to his role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy and was sentenced on August 1, 2023, to three years in federal prison without parole.

In August 2019, law enforcement learned that Smith and Saunders were selling what they referred to as “heroin” (later identified as valeryl fentanyl) together in Springfield. Saunders stored his supply at Smith’s residence where they often packaged the drug together.

On August 15, 2019, law enforcement officers executed search warrants at both Smith’s and Saunders’ residences. At Smith’s home, officers seized a large plastic bag containing valeryl fentanyl and 30 individually packaged sandwich bags of the same substance. In plain view near these bags was a loaded magazine for a 9mm pistol. Officers also found body armor leaning against an infant's crib and seven loaded firearms in an upstairs bedroom. These included various pistols and shotguns located around the room and near the crib. An eighth firearm was discovered under a couch cushion among toys in a child’s bedroom where Smith had been when the warrant was executed.

At Saunders' residence, officers recovered 69 individually packaged bags of fentanyl.

Evidence presented at trial revealed that Smith had recruited the mother of his infant daughter into the conspiracy and filmed her packaging fentanyl for distribution. He testified that he filmed this video to use it as leverage in an ongoing custody dispute.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon and investigated by the Springfield Police Department along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.