PHILADELPHIA – The agencies comprising the Philadelphia Carjacking Task Force highlighted the task force’s efforts at a press conference today at the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero, ATF Philadelphia Special Agent in Charge Eric J. DeGree, FBI Philadelphia Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs, and Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel discussed the benefits of the task force partnership and several significant investigations. They also noted that the number of carjackings in Philadelphia, after hitting a historical high of 1,311 in 2022, dropped 31% to 900 in 2023. In addition, the numbers for the first quarter of 2024 are indicative of another marked decline from last year.
In her remarks, U.S. Attorney Romero shared that, from January 2022 through March 2024, 59 cases investigated by the Carjacking Task Force have resulted in federal charges, with a total of 103 defendants federally charged in connection with 121 individual carjackings.
U.S. Attorney Romero also discussed some recent case developments, including the sentencing ofDashawn Pringleto 10½ years in prison for two armed carjackings, one in which a victim was violently assaulted; the guilty plea ofJohn Nussleinto two carjackings, including one where an elderly delivery driver was fatally beaten, resulting in a potential sentence of 25 years in prison; and the guilty pleas ofAngel Fayez and Kevin Antunto a crime spree that began with a carjacking. Fayez and Antun are now facing mandatory minimum sentences of seven years in prison, and statutory maximum sentences of life in prison.
“We want our community to know that significant strides are being made on their behalf by the Philadelphia Carjacking Task Force,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “At the same time, we want carjackers, and would-be carjackers, to know that we can and have charged defendants as young as 18 years old federally, and in the cases we’ve prosecuted, we’ve obtained some very significant sentences. Carjacking defendants routinely receive sentences of seven to 15 years — and can even face up to a lifetime of imprisonment in some cases.”
ATF Special Agent in Charge DeGree talked about his agency’s role on the task force, providing investigators and employing ATF’s crime gun intelligence tools. He also highlighted one of the agency’s key cases, in whichTarik Chambers and Nikeem Leach-Hiltoncommitted three back-to-back carjackings, then crashed into and critically injured an elderly driver while fleeing from police. Each man was sentenced to more than 18 years in prison. Two other defendants in the same carjacking crew, Rashad Johnson-Price and Khasir Lynch, have pleaded guilty to additional carjackings; each faces about a decade in federal prison when sentenced.
“Our team of ATF special agents are working tirelessly with our partners in the Philadelphia Carjacking Task Force to seek justice and prevent these dangerous crimes,” said Special Agent in Charge DeGree. “Carjacking is not only a deadly dangerous crime, it is a serious federal offense, carrying lengthy federal prison sentences, even for first-time offenders.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Jacobs looked at the Bureau’s investigative role and reviewed the cases ofShamire Youngand Robert Riles. Young and three co-conspirators committed a carjacking at gunpoint in Northwest Philadelphia, pistol-whipping one of the victims; Young pleaded guilty and was sentenced to seven years behind bars. Riles and two co-conspirators committed a carjacking at gunpoint of a mother and daughter in West Philadelphia, with Riles pleading guilty and receiving a sentence of more than 11 years in prison.
“Whether a single subject or a group of subjects — with criminal history or without — the message is simple. Your actions have consequences,” said Special Agent in Charge Jacobs. “No matter who you are, the FBI and each agency on this task force will hold you to account.”
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Bethel cited the decrease in carjackings in the city over the last two years, crediting the work of the task force for getting numerous violent offenders off the street. He underscored the importance of partnerships like the Carjacking Task Force and how local and federal authorities must work collectively to reduce violent crime.
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Below are the statistics provided at today’s press conference, and charging documents for the cases referenced are attached.
Philadelphia Carjacking Task Force
Cases resulting in federal carjacking charges:59
Defendants charged:103
Number of carjackings charged:121
Guilty pleas/convictions to date:44
Active investigations:25
Philadelphia Carjacking Incidents
2019: 224
2020: 409 (+83%)
2021: 847 (+107%)
2022: 1,311 (+55%)
2023: 900 (-31%)
2024: 162* (through 4/10)
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