A St. Louis man has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for a series of robberies and an attempted robbery that occurred in 2018. U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig handed down the sentence on Monday to Jermel Rush, 43, after he pleaded guilty in June to seven counts of robbery, one count of attempted robbery, and one count of using a firearm during a crime of violence.
According to court documents, Rush admitted to using what appeared to be handguns—specifically Airsoft guns resembling real firearms—in several incidents across St. Louis. On June 21, 2018, Rush robbed a retail store on Natural Bridge Road by grabbing a clerk by the neck and dragging her to the cash register before taking money. On July 6, he held employees at gunpoint at a grocery store on Page Avenue and stole cash.
On October 9, Rush attempted but failed to rob another retail store on North Grand Boulevard after threatening employees with an Airsoft revolver and threatening to kill the manager. Later that month, he used similar tactics at stores on Enright Avenue and North Grand Boulevard, where he threatened staff and stole cash and clothing.
In November 2018, Rush escalated his actions by using a real firearm in some robberies. He robbed businesses on North Sarah Street and Delmar Boulevard while armed with a handgun and threatened employees with violence. On November 15, he robbed another store on Dr. Martin Luther King Drive at gunpoint, stealing cash along with Christmas lights and dish towels while telling the manager he would “...blow your head off, hurry up.”
When officers from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department arrested Rush, they found him in possession of a .40 caliber handgun matching descriptions from recent robberies.
Judge Fleissig also ordered Rush to pay $4,237 in restitution to the affected businesses.
The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Torrie J. Schneider prosecuted the case.
