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📍 St. Louis, July 3, 2025 — A federal judge has sentenced Ronald O. Perkins, 30, of Black Jack, Missouri, to 34 years in prison for committing five armed robberies across Missouri and Illinois in 2023. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk, who described the evidence against Perkins as “overwhelming”.
🔫 Details of the Robbery Series Between September and November 2023, Perkins targeted:
- A gas station on Riverview Drive, St. Louis (Sept. 8)
- A gas station on Clayton Road, Richmond Heights (Nov. 8)
- A 7-Eleven on Hoffmeister Avenue, St. Louis County (Nov. 8)
- A gas station on Fee Fee Road, St. Louis County (Nov. 12)
- A liquor store on St. Louis Road, Collinsville, Illinois (Nov. 17)
During the first robbery, Perkins fired multiple shots when confronted by an employee. In others, he brandished a handgun, banged it on counters, and pointed it at staff while demanding cash. The total stolen amounted to $1,650, leaving nine employees and two customers traumatized.
🧾 Trial and Conviction Jurors convicted Perkins on nine federal counts, including:
- Four counts of robbery
- One count of discharging a firearm during a violent crime
- Three counts of brandishing a firearm
- One count of transporting a firearm across state lines with intent to commit a felony
Investigators presented surveillance footage, ballistic evidence, and digital tracking data linking Perkins to each crime. The firearm recovered from his possession matched the weapon used in the first robbery.
⚖️ Law Enforcement and Prosecution The case was investigated by multiple agencies, including:
- St. Louis County Police
- St. Louis Metropolitan Police
- Collinsville and Richmond Heights Police
- Columbia (IL) Police
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Bluestone and Tiffany Becker under the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, which aims to reduce violent crime through coordinated enforcement and community engagement.
For the full press release, visit the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri.
