Judge sentences St. Louis men for their illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition

 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.