Two Men Sentenced for 21-Carjacking Conspiracy

ST. LOUIS – Two men have been sentenced for their roles in a conspiracy believed responsible for 21 carjackings or attempted carjackings in the St. Louis area.

U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Monday sentenced Detrich Lamon Williams Jr., 21, to 19 years in prison.

Judge Pitlyk sentenced Aaron L. Morris, 22, on May 31 to 14 years in prison.

Both men pleaded guilty to all five counts that they faced: carjacking conspiracy, two counts of carjacking, brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

They admitted as part of their guilty pleas that they were among a group of teenagers from the Castle Point neighborhood in St. Louis County that committed carjackings and attempted carjackings in St. Louis and St. Louis County between July and October of 2020. Police believe the group committed a total of 21 carjackings.

In most of the incidents, Morris drove a relative’s SUV or a stolen car and Williams or another person stole the victims’ vehicles at gunpoint. Williams used Morris’ pistol, which had a distinctive green laser sight that had been described by several victims and helped lead investigators to the carjacking ring.

In his plea, Williams admitted stealing a Toyota Camry at gunpoint on Aug. 17, 2020, and then leading police on a high-speed chase that began in St. Louis and ended near Castle Point only after police used spike strips to disable the Camry.

Both men also admitted the following incidents:

• On Sept. 26, 2020, Williams and another person, who was armed with a pistol, stole a 2017 Volvo S60 sedan from a pizza delivery driver in St. Louis. Morris was driving.

• On Oct. 11, 2020, Morris drove Williams and others to the South County Mall. Williams approached a woman who had just parked and exited her 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee, fired a shot in the air and stole the woman’s purse and 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

• Later that same day, Williams was with Morris and two others in St. Louis when they spotted a Jeep Cherokee in an alley. Williams and Morris stayed in the vehicle while the others confronted the owner of the Jeep. One of the others shot the Jeep’s owner before the group fled, Williams’ plea says.

The case was investigated by the Webster Groves Police Department, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the St. Louis County Police Department, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Boyce is prosecuting the case.