Show-Me State Times

A St. Louis man has been sentenced to more than 26 years in federal prison for his role in a series of carjackings that took place over an eight-day period in 2022. U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp handed down the sentence of 319 months to Jaylen Mays, 28, on Tuesday.

According to evidence and testimony presented at trial in March, Mays committed the first carjacking less than six months after being released from parole for a previous carjacking conviction. The court heard that on November 5, 2022, Mays and others stole a 2015 Chevrolet Malibu from the downtown business district. On November 11, Mays and Quinn Turner used a firearm to steal a 2007 Chevrolet Impala.

Two days later, Turner drove the previously stolen Malibu with Mays and a juvenile passenger to a gas station at Russell Boulevard and South 7th Street in Soulard. There, a juvenile riding with Mays and another person carjacked a 2017 GMC Terrain and stole the driver’s wallet. Police deployed spike strips to stop the Malibu as it left the gas station and found Turner, Mays, and the juvenile inside.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Martin noted in a sentencing memorandum: "Carjackings create a real fear in the surrounding community and dissuade local residents from visiting the areas where the crimes occur."

Both Turner and Mays are from East St. Louis, Illinois. They were each convicted of two counts of carjacking with 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 was also convicted on an additional count of carjacking.

Judge Schelp sentenced Turner, now 23 years old, to 230 months in prison on July 22.

The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Martin and Jennifer Szczucinski prosecuted the case.