Baltimore Man Facing Federal Indictment for Two Carjackings, an Armed Robbery and for Brandishing a Firearm During Each Crime

 Allegedly Committed the Crimes in a 10-Day Period

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Deontay Williams, age 25, of Baltimore, Maryland, with two counts of carjacking, an armed commercial robbery, and three counts of using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. The indictment was returned on June 16, 2021. 

The indictment was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner; Acting Special Agent in Charge Rachel Byrd of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.

According to the six-count indictment, between April 1, 2020 and April 10, 2020, Williams committed two carjackings and an armed robbery of a business, each time brandishing a gun. 

Specifically, the indictment alleges that on April 1, 2020, Williams, brandishing a gun, took a white 2020 Toyota Corolla from an individual by force, violence, and intimidation and with the intent to cause death and serious bodily harm.

On April 10, 2020, Williams allegedly robbed a cab driver in Baltimore, taking property from the driver by means of actual and threatened force and violence.  The indictment alleges that Williams brandished a gun during the robbery.  That same day, Williams allegedly carjacked a 2002 Ford E-150, threatening the driver at gunpoint in order to take the vehicle.

If convicted, Williams faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for each of the two counts of carjacking; a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for the robbery; and a minimum mandatory sentence of seven years in prison and a maximum of life in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, for each of the three counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.  Williams will have an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Baltimore at a later date.  Williams is currently detained on unrelated state charges. 

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. 

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Acting United States Attorney Jonathan F. Lenzner commended the FBI and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Lenzner thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Sippel, Jr., who is prosecuting the case.