A Newark NJ man has been sentenced to several years in prison after being convicted of a carjacking in Essex County, New Jersey.
According to authorities, the suspect was part of a group of people who committed an armed robbery on December 15, 2012.
The three suspects reportedly approached the victims’ Chevrolet Equinox, which was parked on a Newark street during the early morning hours, and ordered the driver to give them his cash, a cell phone, and car keys. Although the driver handed over his money and phone, he reportedly threw the car keys to the ground.
The suspects reportedly retrieved the vehicle keys and then threatened to shoot the vehicle driver and a passenger in the car.
The victims were able to get away from the suspects and then dial 911 to alert police of the carjacking. Newark law enforcement then activated an application on the victim’s stolen phone, which they were able to use to track the location of the suspects.
Newark NJ police quickly found the suspects and arrested them. They were subsequently charged with armed robbery.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office also believes that the suspects were part of a group of people who committed a “wave” of carjackings in Essex County, NJ.
Now the main suspect in the recent carjacking case has been sentenced to 78 months in federal prison. He recently made an appearance in US District Court in Trenton, with the judge handing down the stiff punishment.
For more information about this case, access the NJ.com article, “Newark Man Sentenced for Role in 2012 ‘Wave’ of Carjackings.”