St. Louis Streets Less Safe: Mays Gets 26 Years for Carjacking Spree

ST. LOUIS – Jaylen Mays, 28, of East St. Louis, Illinois, will spend the next 26 years and seven months behind bars after being sentenced to 319 months in prison Tuesday for his role in a brazen series of carjackings that terrorized St. Louis residents in 2022. U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp delivered the sentence, highlighting the severity of Mays’s repeat offenses and the fear instilled in the community.

Evidence presented at a March trial revealed Mays was on parole for a *previous* carjacking conviction when he embarked on this latest crime wave. Within a mere eight days, Mays and his accomplice, Quinn Turner, committed three separate carjackings, escalating the violence with each incident. The first occurred November 5, 2022, in the downtown business district, where the pair stole a 2015 Chevrolet Malibu. A week later, on November 11th, they upped the ante, stealing a 2007 Chevrolet Impala at gunpoint.

The final, and most chaotic, carjacking unfolded at a gas station located at the corner of Russell Boulevard and South 7th Street in the Soulard neighborhood. Turner drove the stolen Malibu, transporting Mays and a juvenile accomplice. There, the juvenile, along with another individual, carjacked a 2017 GMC Terrain and also pilfered the driver’s wallet. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s Anti-Crime Task Force quickly responded, deploying spike strips to disable the Malibu as it fled the scene. Inside, officers apprehended Turner, Mays, and the juvenile.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Martin, in a scathing sentencing memorandum, argued that carjackings aren’t simply thefts – they are acts of violence that create a palpable sense of fear, discouraging residents from frequenting affected areas. “These crimes erode the quality of life and instill a sense of vulnerability within the community,” Martin wrote. Both Mays and Turner, originally from East St. Louis, Illinois, were convicted on two counts of carjacking with the intent to cause death or serious bodily harm, as well as two charges of possession and brandishing of a firearm during a crime of violence. Mays faced an additional carjacking charge, leading to the longer sentence.

Quinn Turner, now 23, received his own lengthy sentence of 230 months in prison on July 22nd. 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. Attorneys Matthew Martin and Jennifer Szczucinski successfully prosecuted the case, bringing a measure of justice to the victims and sending a clear message to those who prey on the innocent.

This case underscores the ongoing battle against violent crime in St. Louis and the dedication of law enforcement to hold perpetrators accountable. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this story and report on the efforts to dismantle criminal enterprises operating within the region.

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