ST. LOUIS, MO – Martez D. Lindsey, 31, of St. Louis County, is facing up to 15 years behind bars after admitting to being a convicted felon illegally possessing a firearm. The guilty plea, entered Thursday, also reveals a desperate attempt to obstruct a separate investigation into a fatal hit-and-run, painting a picture of a man scrambling to avoid accountability on multiple fronts.
According to court documents, detectives raided Lindsey’s apartment on April 25, 2023, following an investigation. Inside, they uncovered a stolen Taurus G3 pistol, 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. Lindsey, already saddled with multiple felony convictions, knew he was prohibited from owning a firearm.
But the gun charge wasn’t the only trouble for Lindsey. The plea agreement details a brazen attempt to intimidate a key witness in the hit-and-run case. After his arrest on the federal firearms charge, Lindsey contacted his ex-girlfriend – the same witness – and pressured her to change her statement to police. He allegedly demanded she claim she was tricked or motivated by spite to fabricate her original account, believing her testimony was the only solid evidence against him.
The history between Lindsey and the witness is far from clean. The plea reveals a pattern of harassment and intimidation, including an incident where Lindsey allegedly hurled a brick through the rear window of her vehicle and then tossed a firework through another window, causing significant damage. This previous act of vandalism underscores the lengths to which Lindsey was willing to go to control and silence those who threatened him.
Federal prosecutors are seeking a substantial sentence. Lindsey is scheduled to appear before a judge on March 13, 2024, where he faces a potential penalty of up to 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or a combination of both. The case was a joint effort by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Bluestone is prosecuting the case. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing. This case highlights the ongoing struggle to get illegal firearms off the streets and the lengths criminals will go to avoid justice, even resorting to witness tampering and intimidation.
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