Illinois Man Convicted of Federal Kidnapping and Weapons Charges

St. Louis, Missouri: Michael Batee was convicted of kidnapping, carjacking, and weapons charges involving the July 2007 downtown St. Louis abduction of two people, United States Attorney Catherine L. Hanaway announced today.

“These men terrorized two innocent people who were enjoying a pleasant evening. They are now facing significant prison time for their actions,” said Hanaway. “The subsequent apprehension of these defendants is the result of the coordination of multiple law enforcement agencies.”

Testimony at trial described how Batee and Edward Powell abducted a young couple sitting in their car in downtown St. Louis. Batee and Powell forced their way into the car at gunpoint and forced the victims to drive to East St. Louis, Illinois. They attempted to get money from an ATM, but the young lady did not have sufficient funds. The kidnappers demanded that she obtain $1,000 quickly, so she called her mother and made arrangements for her brother to bring over $1,000. At this point the mother called the police who sent cars over to look for the brother. The officers observed both the victim’s car and the brother’s car and they witnessed the exchange of the money take place. The victims were both let out of the car eventually. The police followed the car until it was abandoned and moved in and arrested both Batee and Powell after they fled into a field. Two handguns were recovered from the field. Each of the defendants was in possession of $500 of ransom money and other property belonging to the victims. Both victims identified the defendants.

MICHAEL BATEE, East St. Louis, Illinois, was convicted of one felony count of kidnapping, one felony count of carjacking, one felony count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and one felony count of being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm. The five-day trial was held before United States District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh.

Batee now faces a maximum penalty of life in prison when he is sentenced on May 23, 2008.

Co-defendant Edward Powell pled guilty in January to one felony count of kidnapping Powell faces a penalty range of seven years to life in prison when he is sentenced later this month.

Hanaway commended the work performed on the case by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the St. Louis County Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick Judge and Michael Reilly, who prosecuted the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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