Newark Man Pleads Guilty to Carjacking

NEWARK, NJ—A Newark man today admitted his role in a carjacking in Newark on March 14, 2012, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Anthony Reynolds, 18, pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of theft of a motor vehicle by force, violence, and intimidation before U.S. District Judge Dennis M. Cavanaugh in Newark federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Reynolds admitted that on March 14, 2012, he was a passenger in a BMW that had stopped at an intersection in Newark. Reynolds exited the vehicle and approached the driver’s side of a Porsche 911 Turbo that was stopped behind the BMW. Reynolds brandished a .38-cal. revolver at the driver of the Porsche 911 Turbo and ordered the driver out of the car. Once the driver got out of the car, Reynolds attempted to drive away in the Porsche 911 Turbo, but was unable to operate its manual transmission. A police chase ensued on foot and the police apprehended Reynolds.

The carjacking charge to which Reynolds pleaded guilty is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 15 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross amount of any pecuniary gain or loss from the offense.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s plea.

Sentencing before Judge Cavanaugh is scheduled for January 22, 2013.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dara Aquila Govan of the Organized Crimes/Gangs Unit in Newark.

Defense counsel: Joseph Ferrante Esq., Newark

Culpeper Man Sentenced to More than 50 Years for Armed Robberies, Carjacking

ALEXANDRIA, VA—George Golder Phillips II, 33, of Culpeper, Virginia, was sentenced to 619 months in prison today for committing a series of armed robberies of financial institutions and businesses and kidnapping and carjacking a woman.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Ken Cuccinelli, II, Attorney General of Virginia; and James McJunkin, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office, made the announcement after Phillips was sentenced today by United States District Judge Gerald Bruce Lee.

According to court records, in 2008 through 2009, Phillips—often armed with a firearm—robbed more than $87,000 from six financial institutions and three businesses in Virginia. In addition, Phillips admitted that on September 17, 2009, he approached a woman in Prince William County, Virginia, brandished a firearm, and forced her into her car. With the victim sitting blindfolded in the passenger seat, Phillips drove the car from Virginia and across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge into Maryland, where he crashed the car into another car and fled on foot.

Phillips is already serving two state sentences for other offenses: 20 years in prison for the attempted murder and malicious wounding of two sheriff’s deputies in Fauquier County, Virginia, and 40 years in prison for a murder in Dinwiddie County, Virginia. The court ordered that his federal sentence should be served consecutive to the state sentences.

The investigation was conducted by FBI’s Washington Field Office jointly with the Virginia State Police; Fauquier County, Orange County, and Frederick County Sheriff’s Offices; and Prince William County and Front Royal Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Fahey and Virginia Assistant Attorney General and Special Assistant United States Attorney Marc Birnbaum are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

Mercer County Man Pleads Guilty to Robbing the Same Bank Twice, Carjacking, and Shooting Two People

TRENTON, NJ—A Mercer County, New Jersey man today admitted to robbing a bank and then carjacking a vehicle nine months later, robbing that same bank later that day, and shooting two people in the course of that conduct, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Jeffrey Garrett, 34, of Trenton, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan in Trenton federal court to counts one, three, five and six of an indictment charging him with two armed bank robberies, carjacking, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.

According to documents filed in this case and statement made in court:

Garrett robbed the Chase Bank, in Hamilton, New Jersey, on November 10, 2010. He handed the teller a note that stated, “I have a gun, give me all the 50 and 100 dollar bills.” He displayed a black handgun before fleeing with the cash. Surveillance cameras revealed clear images of Garrett, and FBI agents determined that Garrett used his own Visa card at the Chase Bank’s ATM just moments before the robbery. Federal authorities charged Garrett by complaint two days later and obtained an arrest warrant, but Garrett remained at large.

Nine months later, on August 23, 2011, Garrett robbed the same bank. To get to the bank, he carjacked a car at 5:30 a.m. in Trenton, New Jersey. He pistol-whipped the victim, and the gun discharged, causing the victim a serious head wound. Garrett locked the bleeding victim in the trunk of the car and shortly thereafter bound his hands with cable and threatened his life.

Garrett arrived at the same Chase Bank in Hamilton in the stolen vehicle around 10 a.m., after driving around for hours. He wore a dark baseball cap and sunglasses when he entered the bank. Showing a chrome revolver, he demanded that the teller give him all the money. When she complied, he asked for more money and threatened to shoot her if she turned any keys at her station. The handgun discharged and the teller was shot in the abdomen.

Garrett drove off in the stolen car and later abandoned it in a shopping mall parking lot in Moorestown, New Jersey, with the bound carjacking victim still locked in the trunk. Both victims survived.

Garrett was arrested in Florida on October 17, 2011.

Under the plea agreement accepted today by the court, Jeffrey Garrett will receive 30 years’ imprisonment for his crimes and faces up to a $1,000,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for November 26, 2012. Garrett is in federal custody ,pending his sentencing.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward; officers of the Hamilton Township Police Department, under the direction of Police Chief James W. Collins; officers of the Trenton Police Department, under the direction of Acting Police Director David Armitage; and the U.S. Marshals Service with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys R. Joseph Gribko and John E. Clabby of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton.

Newark Man Sentenced to More Than 15 Years in Prison for Carjacking and Related Crimes

NEWARK—A Newark man was sentenced today to 181 months in prison for his role in the gunpoint carjacking of an SUV in the city, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Jerome Conover, 21, previously pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count each of conspiracy to commit carjacking; theft of a motor vehicle by force, violence, and intimidation; and use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. The defendant entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas, who also imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Conover conspired with others to carjack vehicles at gunpoint. He admitted that on Jan. 12, 2011, he and his co-conspirators were carrying a loaded 12-gauge shotgun while riding around in a car and decided to steal a Dodge Durango in Newark. They tailgated the Durango, forcing it to pull over, and then used their car to box it in. Conover and the co-conspirators got out of the car and pointed the gun at the driver to force the driver out of the Durango. They took the Durango and a police chase ensued. Conover and the co-conspirators crashed the Durango into multiple vehicles in a Newark intersection.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Salas sentenced Conover to serve five years of supervised release.

This case was brought as part of a cooperative effort between federal, state, county, and local law enforcement to address a spike in carjacking and related crimes in and around Essex County.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI’s Violent Crimes/Fugitive Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward in Newark; the Newark Police Department, under the leadership of Director Samuel A. DeMaio and Chief Sheilah A. Coley; and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray, with the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jane H. Yoon of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.

Defense counsel: Joseph R. Rubino Esq., West Orange, N.J.

Manassas Woman Sentenced to 132 Months for Robberies, Carjackings, and Heroin Distribution

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Stephanie Lynn Schwab, 27, of Manassas, Virginia, was sentenced today to 132 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for carrying out three bank robberies, stealing and carjacking three cars she used in those robberies, and participating in a heroin distribution ring operating out of Manassas. Ms. Schwab was also ordered to pay over $24,000 in restitution.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and James W. McJunkin, Assistant Director in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge T.S. Ellis, III. Schwab pleaded guilty on April 5, 2012.

“Stephanie’s Schwab’s reckless crime spree was a risk to the public in many different communities,” said U.S. Attorney MacBride. “Her complete disregard for the law and public safety justifies the lengthy sentence.”

“During a two-week period, Stephanie Schwab committed multiple crimes across various jurisdictions and put the community in danger with her reckless actions,” said Assistant Director in Charge McJunkin. “This sentence is the result of strong law enforcement cooperation to bring her to justice.”

According to a statement of facts filed with her plea agreement, from November 18, 2011 through November 30, 2011, Schwab robbed or attempted to rob three local banks of thousands of dollars, claiming to have a gun and threatening them with violence if they did not comply with her demands. For each robbery, Schwab either stole or took by force a car that she used to travel to and from the crime scene.

In addition, Schwab admitted her participation in a separate case involving a heroin trafficking ring that purchased large supplies of heroin from sources in New York and the Washington, D.C.-metro area and distributed the heroin to customers in Manassas from 2009 through 2011.

Schwab was apprehended by the Fairfax County Police Department following her attempted robbery of a bank on November 30, 2011. After leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase on I-495 onto a local road in Montgomery County, Maryland, she turned the stolen vehicle into oncoming traffic and caused a three-vehicle crash. She tried to flee on foot but was caught and arrested by the pursuing officer.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office; the police departments in Fairfax County, Baltimore County, Prince William County, and Manassas City; and the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Sean P. Tonolli and Lisa Owings and Special Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth N. Eriksen prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

Arrest of Bank Robbery, Carjacking Suspect Pedro Luis Valdes

The FBI announces the arrest of Pedro Luis Valdes, 48, of Miami, Florida, for his alleged involvement in two recent bank robberies and a carjacking involving a 3-year-old child (the child was returned safely).

The arrest was made without incident by the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, Miami-Dade PD, Hialeah PD, City of Miami PD, Miami Beach PD, and the South Florida Violent Crime Fugitive Task Force (SFVCFTF) around 9:45 p.m. last night at 3141 SW 8th Street in Miami, Florida.

Valdes is in federal custody and is expected to face federal charges. It is anticipated that his initial appearance will be today (Friday) in federal court in Miami.

The FBI, the U.S. Secret Service, Miami-Dade PD, Hialeah PD, City of Miami PD, and all members of the SFVCFTF continue their investigation. No further information will be released at this time.

FBI Seeks Information Leading to Arrest of Bank Robbery, Carjacking Suspect

There is a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Pedro Luis Valdes, 48, who is wanted for his alleged involvement in two recent bank robberies and a carjacking involving a 3-year-old child (the child was returned safely) today.

The robberies are:

Bank: Regions Bank

Location: 8373 West Flagler Street, Miami, Florida

Date/Time: Friday, July 13, 2012, at approximately 11:50 a.m.

Bank: Bank of America

Location: 7760 West Flagler Street, Miami, Florida

Date/Time: Wednesday, July 18, 2012, at approximately 2:15 p.m.

Valdes was last seen this afternoon (July 18, 2012) in Dade County, Florida, driving a silver 2001 Mitsubishi with tinted windows and handicap decal. The Florida tag is T306JD.

He is also associated with a black 2001 Ford four-door Escort with the Florida tag 869 JDP.

Valdes should be considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information should call the FBI in Miami at (305) 944-9101 or Crimestoppers.