Yesterday, marking the end of one tragic chapter in St. Louis, a life sentence was handed down to Moreion Lindsey, 35, for his role in a murder-for-hire scheme. The man from St. Louis County was convicted in January of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and one count of murder-for-hire, related to the 2022 death of Titus Armstead, a New Jersey man. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, evidence and testimony presented in court showed that Lindsey executed the hit at Penrose Park in St. Louis after being recruited for the job by Jerome Williams, acting on behalf of Seattle-based cocaine and marijuana trafficker Ray Bradley.
With a .45-caliber handgun, Lindsey met Armstead at the airport, driving him to his death instead of safety – an action carried out under the pretense of protection from unspecified dangers. Post-murder, Lindsey sent Williams and Bradley photographic evidence using a prepaid burner phone, as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Acting on the false belief that Armstead had stolen drugs and money from one of Bradley's stash houses, the Seattle man ordered the hit. Lindsey, having completed the task, was paid $15,000 for taking a life.
In an emotional victim impact statement, Armstead's sister addressed Lindsey's irrevocable choice. She said, "In a world full of limitless opportunities—where every day offers a chance to grow, create, and build a meaningful life—why choose a path of destruction and harm?" She lamented the choices of Lindsey, noting that he could have earned the blood money through half a year of honest work. "Moreion Lindsey, you threw away your life for $15,000—an amount you could have earned in six months of full-time work at minimum wage," she added, pointing out the grave consequences of his actions on his own family and the irreplaceable loss of her brother. Lindsey is now faced with a lifetime deprived of freedom and the simple joys of life, the U.S. Attorney’s Office disclosed.
Accomplice Jerome Williams, 52, got a 138-month sentence in April, acknowledging his part in the destruction of evidence. Having gotten rid of the burner phone and other critical evidence, Williams dodged heavier charges. As for the man behind it all, Ray Bradley, 46, he took a guilty plea in June to one count of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and conspiracy to distribute cocaine. The sentence meted out to him in September was 25 years behind bars, as detailed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The FBI, alongside the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, investigated the plot that led to Armstead's death and brought justice to his family. They uncovered the details of a crime involving drugs, deceit, and the payment of $15,000 for the murder. While the court proceedings have concluded, the impact of these actions will be felt for years to come.
