Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

ST. LOUIS – United States District Court Judge Henry E. Autrey accepted pleas of guilty from Thomas T. Taylor, age 35, on today’s date, for the crimes of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, and two counts of interfering with commerce by robbery. Judge Autrey set sentencing for January 5, 2022. At sentencing, Taylor is subject to imprisonment of not more than 20 years, a fine of not more than $250,000, or both such imprisonment and fine.

According to the plea agreement, Taylor and others agreed to interfere with commerce by robbing businesses of cigarettes. Taylor admitted that between March and August 2020, he was involved in at least 38 separate incidents of theft of cigarettes from gas station convenience stores located in St. Louis and St. Charles County. Taylor admitted threatening store clerks in some instances.

On July 28, 2020, Taylor went to the Circle K located in Bridgeton and went behind the counter to take cigarettes. Taylor, when contacted by a store clerk, said, “Do you want to get shot?” Taylor took 29 cartons of cigarettes from the store. On August 16, 2020, Taylor and an accomplice went to the Zephyr Express gas station in south St. Louis County and Taylor went behind the counter. Taylor, when contacted by the clerk, told the clerk that he was “gonna get shot.” Taylor took cigarettes.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and ten local law enforcement agencies.