St. Louis County Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Shooting, Carjackings

ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Wednesday sentenced a man from St. Ann, Missouri to 18 years in prison for two carjackings and for shooting a store clerk in the mouth during a robbery. 

On Dec. 26, 2021, James Furlow carjacked a 2017 Kia Sorrento SUV at gunpoint. He then tried to break into an ATM by shooting at it. 

Later that day Furlow and Monya Jones robbed a Quick Mart in St. Louis County. Furlow shot the store clerk in the mouth during the robbery, seriously injuring him.

Four days later, Furlow carjacked a 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan at gunpoint. After police spotted him, Furlow fled, first in the stolen SUV and later on foot, but was caught in a basement.

A dating app was used to set up both carjackings.

Furlow, now 20, pleaded guilty to two counts of carjacking and one count each of possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, robbery and discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

Jones, now 23, of St. Louis County, pleaded guilty to one robbery charge and one charge of possession, brandishing and discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Judge Autrey sentenced Jones in February to 13 years and 10 months in prison.

The St. Louis County Police Department, the St. Ann Police Department, the Overland Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassandra Wiemken is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.