Judge Sentences St. Louis Men For Their Illegal Possession Of A Firearm And Ammunition

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Missouri:

June 30, 2021

ST. LOUIS – On Wednesday, United States District Court Judge Henry E. Autrey accepted pleas of guilty from Deandre Scott and Morocco Thompson-Bey for the crimes of being a felon in possession of a firearm and a felon in possession of ammunition, respectively. Immediately after their guilty pleas, Scott was sentenced to a 24-month term of imprisonment. Thompson-Bey received a sentence of 18 months. Scott, 32, and Thompson-Bey, 24, are both St. Louis residents.

On June 3, 2020, members of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department responded to a report that businesses were being looted in the area of Kingshighway and Chippewa. When they arrived, they spotted several vehicles. The police began a rolling surveillance. The vehicles eventually stopped in the middle of the street, where the occupants began unloading items. When the police approached, a BMW, occupied by Scott and Thompson-Bey, sped off.

Although the officers were able to disable the BMW, with the aid of spike strips, the vehicle continued to flee from the officers. Thompson-Bey (the driver), and Scott abandoned the BMW and ran from the officers. Scott dropped a firearm during his flight. Both Scott and Thompson-Bey were apprehended a short distance away. The firearm (a loaded .40 caliber pistol) was seized. A search of the BMW resulted in the recovery of a bag containing .45 caliber and 9mm caliber ammunition belonging to Thompson-Bey.

Prior to June 3, 2020, both Scott and Thompson-Bey were each convicted of at least one felony crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated this case.

This press release was produced by the US Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Missouri. The views expressed here are the author’s own.