Two men have been sentenced to prison for two carjackings that took place in St. Louis, according to a May 4 announcement.
Davion Pruitt, age 19 and from St. Louis, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp to nine years in prison. Tywone Calvin, age 20 and from Pine Lawn, received a sentence of nine and one-half years on April 27.
The two were involved in the theft of a Cadillac Escalade at gunpoint on December 23, followed by the carjacking of a Chevrolet Trax three days later. The first incident involved Mya Reagan arranging a meeting with the victim after being told by Pruitt and Calvin to find someone to rob. After stopping at a gas station near South Broadway and Interstate 55, the victim was confronted by two armed men who stole his vehicle. Police later recovered the SUV with three individuals who said they had purchased it from someone matching Reagan’s description.
On December 26 at about 3:35 a.m., another victim received an alert about his Chevrolet Trax key fob and found two armed men outside demanding his keys before driving away with his vehicle. Later that day, police located Pruitt and Calvin inside the stolen vehicle; Calvin crashed after letting Pruitt out and fled on foot while dropping a handgun. Pruitt was arrested by police on February 14, where officers found him with a handgun equipped with a laser sight.
Both defendants pleaded guilty to one count each of carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Reagan also pleaded guilty to carjacking on April 10 and is scheduled for sentencing in July.
The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, St. Louis County Police Department, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Assistant U.S. Attorney Torrie J. Schneider is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative that brings together resources from various federal programs including Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood—to address violent crime as described in the press release.
The U.S Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Missouri advances community well-being through partnerships aimed at preventing crime according to its official website. The office uses both Thomas F. Eagleton U.S Courthouse in St Louis as well as Rush H Limbaugh Sr US Courthouse in Cape Girardeau as noted online. It operates under the United States Department of Justice according to its official website.
Serving forty-nine counties across eastern Missouri as stated online, this office investigates federal crimes such as terrorism or fraud while enforcing civil rights laws according to its website. Collaboration with law enforcement agencies aims both at preventing crime incidents like these recent carjackings—and improving overall quality-of-life within local communities.
