Missouri – Three Missouri individuals are now facing federal charges after investigators say they participated in a scheme to traffic fentanyl-laced pills. The case, made public following a recent court appearance, shines a light on the ongoing battle against illegal fentanyl in Missouri.
According to Department of Justice, Kajuan M. Jackson, 40, Christopher D. Baird, 40, and Skyler B. Sledd, 26, were all taken into custody after a criminal complaint was unsealed in U.S. District Court on May 28. Prosecutors allege the trio distributed pills marked “M30”—a tablet frequently associated with fentanyl—over nearly a year, selling them to an undercover officer on several occasions between June 2024 and May 2025.
Sledd is currently on state felony supervision through Missouri Probation and Parole for possession of a controlled substance. The complaint also outlines additional allegations against Jackson, who is accused of possessing multiple firearms and even machineguns while trafficking drugs. As a convicted felon, Jackson is legally barred from having any firearms or ammunition. His record includes prior felony convictions for crimes such as identity theft, drug offenses, weapons violations, and tampering with a vehicle.
The legal proceedings are in early stages. Prosecutors emphasized that the charges are accusations at this point; a federal trial jury will ultimately decide the outcomes about the Kansas City defendants based on the evidence.
If convicted, the consequences are severe. Federal law imposes a mandatory minimum of 5 years—and up to 40 years—in prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. The penalties climb dramatically for gun-related charges. Possession of machineguns in connection with drug trafficking carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison, without the possibility of parole.
Sentencing in federal court depends on a range of factors and will not be decided until after a presentence investigation. A future hearing will determine any penalties if the defendants are found guilty.
The prosecution is being led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan A. Baker and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Jennings. The investigation involved a coordinated effort among several agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Missouri Western Interdiction Drug Task Force, and the United States Postal Service.
Authorities continue to warn about the dangers of counterfeit pills and the risks posed by fentanyl, which remains a leading cause of overdose deaths nationwide.
