Felon Sentenced to 100 Months for Gas Station Gun Threat

A convicted felon who threatened employees of a St. Louis, Missouri gas station with a gun has been sentenced to 100 months in prison. Richard Skinner, 45, pleaded guilty in December to a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, Skinner was caught by police with a semi-automatic pistol on March 27, 2023, after a dispute with employees of a gas station in the 1100 block of South Kingshighway Boulevard in St. Louis. The employees told police Skinner threatened them with the gun during a confrontation, and they restrained him after a struggle.

Skinner has prior convictions that include a cocaine conspiracy charge, forgery, and robbery, a sentencing memo says. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Goeke is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Skinner’s sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Henry Edward Autrey on Wednesday. The defendant’s guilty plea and subsequent sentencing mark a significant blow to the violent crime and gun violence plaguing St. Louis neighborhoods.

As part of the Department’s ongoing efforts to combat violent crime and gun violence, this case highlights the importance of community partnerships and the need for a comprehensive approach to addressing the root causes of violence. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with law enforcement agencies and community organizations to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

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