ST. LOUIS – The grim streets of St. Louis have seen their fair share of horror, but the case of Jaylen Mays, 28, stands out as a chilling example of repeat offense. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp meted out justice, sentencing Mays to 319 months in prison for his role in three carjackings that shook the city in 2022.
Mays’ criminal history was already steeped in violence before his latest spree. Less than six months after being released from parole following a previous carjacking conviction, Mays struck again, committing a first-degree carjacking and two additional thefts within just eight days. His actions culminated in the high-stakes theft of a 2015 Chevrolet Malibu from downtown St. Louis on November 5, 2022, followed by an armed heist of a 2007 Chevrolet Impala just six days later.
The trail of destruction didn’t end there. On November 8, Mays’ partner in crime, Quinn Turner, now 23, and two juveniles carjacked a 2017 GMC Terrain from the Soulard neighborhood at gunpoint. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s Anti-Crime Task Force was quick to respond, using spike strips to apprehend the suspects as they tried to flee the gas station.
In a sentencing memorandum, Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Martin highlighted the profound impact carjackings have on communities, noting that such crimes breed fear and deter locals from frequenting affected areas. Mays and Turner were each convicted of two counts of carjacking with intent to cause death or serious bodily harm and two charges of possession and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Mays faced an additional carjacking charge.
Judge Schelp sentenced Turner to 230 months in prison on July 22, while Mays received the longer sentence for his repeated offenses. The investigation was a collaborative effort between the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Martin and Jennifer Szczucinski leading the prosecution.
Related Federal Cases
- Medicaid Scam: St. Louis Woman Pleads Guilty · Maryland
- East St. Louis Man Gets 135 Months for Kidnapping Aiding · Illinois
- St. Louis Man Gets 57 Months in Meth Ring · Illinois
- Haben Sebhatu Sentenced in St. Louis ID Theft Ring · Arkansas
- Latricia Newell Gets 4 Years for St. Louis Gift Card Scam · Texas
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News