Mautaveus Ayers, Carjacking, Missouri 2020

State: Missouri
Category: Violent Crime
Source: <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmo/pr/st-louis-man-gets-11-years-2020-carjacking" style="color:#cc0000;" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">DOJ Press Release ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Â Ã¢â‚¬â€

A shocking act of violence shook the streets of St. Louis in 2020 when a woman had her Volkswagen Tiguan carjacked at gunpoint. The brazen crime occurred on January 16, 2020, in the 1200 block of Olive Street, leaving the victim shaken and without her vehicle.

The defendant, Mautaveus Ayers, a 27-year-old St. Louis man, pleaded guilty in March to three felonies: carjacking, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Ayers was on supervised release in a 2013 federal gun case at the time of the crime.

According to court documents, Ayers stole the woman’s Volkswagen Tiguan and her driver’s cell phone. Approximately an hour later, St. Louis Metropolitan Police officers spotted the stolen SUV in the drive-thru lane of a fast-food restaurant in the 4900 block of Natural Bridge Avenue. Ayers sped off, eventually abandoning the vehicle in East St. Louis and running away with a gun.

Ayers’ actions were swift and brazen, but ultimately led to his downfall. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case, working tirelessly to bring Ayers to justice.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer L. Szczucinski prosecuted the case, ensuring that Ayers would face the consequences of his actions. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey sentenced Ayers to 11 years and two months in prison for his role in the carjacking.

The sentence is a stark reminder that carjacking is a serious crime with severe consequences. Ayers’ actions put the victim and the community at risk, and his punishment reflects the gravity of his crimes. As the city continues to grapple with violent crime, cases like Ayers’ serve as a reminder of the importance of holding perpetrators accountable.

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