Two individuals have been sentenced to prison for their involvement in an attempted armed kidnapping and robbery of a St. Louis apartment property manager in 2024.
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp sentenced Emma M. Cunningham, 33, to 112 months in prison. Last week, Judge Schelp sentenced Jervonz L. Williams, 49, to 225 months for his role in the crimes.
Court documents state that Cunningham purchased a .38-caliber revolver months before the incident and falsely stated on Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Form 4473 that she was buying the gun for herself and was not an unlawful user of controlled substances. In reality, she bought the firearm for Williams, her boyfriend, who is a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms.
Williams used the weapon to threaten several people prior to the kidnapping attempt. He also admitted to robbing a drug dealer in late June 2024 using the same revolver, during which he struck the victim on the head multiple times and stole $17, another firearm, and cocaine base.
On August 5, 2024, Cunningham arranged a final walkthrough of her apartment with the property manager under false pretenses. When the victim arrived, Cunningham locked the door and Williams threatened her life as she tried to call for help. The pair demanded cash and access to her financial accounts by asking for her phone password. They restrained her with duct tape but she managed to escape despite being physically assaulted as they tried to prevent her from leaving. Authorities arrested both suspects two days later; Williams had possession of the revolver while Cunningham had ammunition.
“ATF Special Agent in Charge Bernard ‘Butch’ Hansen of the Kansas City Field Division said: ‘This case is a stark reminder of the devastation that follows when someone illegally buys a gun for another person. A straw purchase is not a harmless favor. It’s a federal crime that can arm dangerous felons and fuel violent acts like the attempted kidnapping and robbery we saw here. ATF and our law enforcement partners will continue to hold accountable anyone who thinks they can skirt the law and put our communities at risk.'”
Both defendants pleaded guilty in June: Cunningham admitted guilt to attempted kidnapping, transfer of a firearm to a convicted felon, and making false statements regarding firearm purchase; Williams pleaded guilty to attempted kidnapping, robbery, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
The investigation was conducted by ATF and St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which coordinates efforts among law enforcement agencies at various levels with community partners aiming to reduce violent crime and gun violence.
