Show-Me State Times

Two individuals have been sentenced to prison for attempting to kidnap and rob a St. Louis apartment property manager at gunpoint in 2024, as well as other related crimes.

U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp sentenced Emma M. Cunningham, 33, to 112 months in prison. Jervonz L. Williams, 49, received a sentence of 225 months on September 24.

According to court records, Cunningham purchased the .38-caliber revolver used in the crime several months before the incident. On February 20, 2024, she provided false information on a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Form 4473 by claiming she was buying the firearm for herself and denying unlawful drug use. In reality, she bought it for Williams, her boyfriend and a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms.

Williams used the firearm to threaten others and admitted to using it during a late June robbery of a drug dealer in which he stole $17, another gun, and cocaine base after striking the dealer multiple times with the revolver.

On August 5, 2024, Williams and Cunningham attempted to kidnap the property manager during an apartment walkthrough scheduled by Cunningham. After locking the apartment door upon the victim’s arrival, Williams threatened to kill her when she tried to call emergency services and demanded cash as well as access to her financial accounts through her phone password. The victim was restrained with duct tape but managed to escape despite attempts by both defendants to prevent her from leaving. Police arrested Williams and Cunningham two days later; Williams had possession of the revolver while Cunningham had ammunition.

ATF Special Agent in Charge Bernard “Butch” Hansen stated: “This case is a stark reminder of the devastation that follows when someone illegally buys a gun for another person. A straw purchase is not a harmless favor. It’s a federal crime that can arm dangerous felons and fuel violent acts like the attempted kidnapping and robbery we saw here. ATF and our law enforcement partners will continue to hold accountable anyone who thinks they can skirt the law and put our communities at risk.”

Both defendants pleaded guilty in June: Cunningham admitted guilt on charges of attempted kidnapping, transfer of a firearm to a convicted felon, and making false statements during firearm purchase; Williams pleaded guilty to attempted kidnapping, robbery, and possession of a firearm by a felon.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives alongside the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.

The case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through cooperation among all levels of law enforcement and local communities.