Joliet Man Sentenced to 20 years in Prison on Carjacking and Kidnapping Charges

St. Louis, MO – Deshawn Denton was sentenced to 20 years in prison for armed carjacking and kidnapping charges.

On February 7, 2016, Denton committed an armed carjacking by pointing a firearm at the operator of a vehicle in the area of South 14th Street and Spruce. Denton threatened to kill the victim and ordered the victim out of the vehicle. Denton and an accomplice fled in the vehicle.

Two days later, in the early morning hours of February 9, 2016, Denton committed another armed carjacking by pointing a firearm at two occupants of a vehicle parked on Washington Avenue in downtown Saint Louis. Denton approached the vehicle and pointed a firearm at the two victims. Personal items were demanded and taken. Denton ordered the two victims to get into the vehicle’s backseat. Denton and an accomplice took the vehicle and victims to East Saint Louis, Illinois, where, among other things, Denton demanded that one of the victims make an ATM withdrawal. The two victims were later released outside the Casino Queen. During the kidnapping, Denton repeatedly threatened to kill the victims.

Denton, 27, of Joliet, IL, pleaded guilty on May 15, 2017, to one felony count of armed carjacking and one felony count of kidnapping. He appeared today for sentencing before United States District Judge Henry Autrey.

This case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation.