St. Louis Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Carjacking Downtown

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Missouri
18 August 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

St. Louis, MO – Ricky Smith, 23, of St. Louis, MO, pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking. Smith appeared today before U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey who accepted his plea and set his sentencing date for November 19, 2020.

According to the plea agreement, on May 18, 2019, Smith approached the victim near the intersection of 11th Street and St. Charles Street in St. Louis City. The victim was in the process of moving her belongings from her 2016 Jeep Wrangler into her apartment. Smith approached the victim, pointed a silver-framed firearm at her, and demanded the victim’s phone, wallet, and car key. After the victim refused to comply, Smith snatched the victim’s car key and drove away in the victim’s 2016 Jeep Wrangler.

Later that day, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Officers located the 2016 Jeep Wrangler, which Smith was still driving. Officers attempted a traffic stop, but Smith refused to stop driving. Officers disabled the car using spike strips. Smith fled on foot, but was ultimately detained. While canvassing the area, police observed a silver-framed Arminius Titan Tiger 38 Special revolver firearm in a trash can approximately 15 feet from the stolen vehicle.

Smith faces a term of imprisonment of not more than 15 years in prison and a fine of not more than $250,000. In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney Jay Redd is handling this case.