Missouri Man Admits Being Caught on Interstate 44 with Nearly 3 Pounds of Meth

ST. LOUIS - A western Missouri man on Monday admitted being caught with nearly three pounds of methamphetamine after a high-speed police chase that started and ended on Interstate 44 in Franklin County, Missouri.

Antonio D. Braxton, 49, of Lee's Summit, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He admitted intending to distribute the drug.

On July 2, 2022, a Franklin County Sheriff's deputy pulled over a dark blue Pontiac Trans Am for improperly passing a tractor-trailer. The Trans Am also bore a license plate that was "not on file." Braxton initially refused to provide his registration and argued with the deputy. When that deputy called for backup, Braxton sped off. He led law enforcement officers on a 23-mile pursuit that involved several major roads and speeds exceeding 100 mph. He eventually stopped on Interstate 44 and was arrested by officers from the Eureka (Mo.) Police Department. When officers approached the car, they saw three cellophane-wrapped packages on the passenger side floorboard. After obtaining a search warrant, investigators recovered the packages, which contained 1.339 kilograms of nearly pure meth.

Braxton is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 30. The meth distribution charge carries a penalty of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine, or both prison and a fine.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, the Eureka Police Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the St. Louis County Police Department and the Pacific (Mo.) Police Department investigated or assisted with the case.