Martez D. Lindsey, Possession of Stolen Firearm and Witness Intimidation, Missouri 2023

ST. LOUIS, MO – Martez D. Lindsey, 31, of St. Louis County, is headed to federal prison for 55 months after admitting to illegally possessing a stolen handgun and attempting to intimidate a witness in a separate, deadly hit-and-run case. U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp handed down the sentence Wednesday, adding to the legal troubles already mounting for the repeat offender.

The bust went down April 25, 2023, when detectives raided Lindsey’s apartment while investigating a fatal hit-and-run collision. Inside his bedroom, they discovered a Taurus G3 pistol reported stolen, along with a cocktail of drugs: .53 grams of cocaine base, .33 grams of methamphetamine, and 1.14 grams of marijuana. A digital scale and $1,370 in cash were also seized, painting a picture of a man actively involved in the drug trade. Lindsey, already a convicted felon, knew he was prohibited from owning a firearm.

But the gun charge wasn’t the extent of Lindsey’s alleged crimes. According to his December plea agreement, Lindsey immediately went into damage control after his arrest. He aggressively contacted an ex-girlfriend – a key witness in the hit-and-run investigation – and pressured her to recant her statement, claiming she was motivated by anger and had fabricated her story. Lindsey believed her testimony was the only evidence investigators had connecting him to the hit-and-run, a desperate attempt to derail the case.

The ex-girlfriend wasn’t just a witness; she was a previous target of Lindsey’s aggression. The plea agreement reveals a history of harassment, including an incident where Lindsey threw a brick through her car window and then detonated a firework inside, destroying the front windshield. This pattern of behavior underscores a clear willingness to use intimidation and violence to control those around him.

Judge Schelp ordered the 55-month federal sentence to run concurrently with any time Lindsey receives in St. Louis Circuit Court, where he’s currently facing charges of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and unlawful possession of a firearm. The dual prosecution means Lindsey could be facing a significant stretch behind bars. The investigation was a joint effort between the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Bluestone led the prosecution, securing the conviction and subsequent sentencing. The case serves as a stark reminder that federal agencies are actively targeting illegal gun possession and holding individuals accountable for not only possessing weapons illegally, but also for attempting to obstruct justice and silence potential witnesses. The Kansas City Field Division of the ATF played a crucial role in the investigation.

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