Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced DeAndre Spencer, age 27, of Baltimore, Maryland, today to 12 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for committing an armed carjacking. 

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; and Chief Terrence B. Sheridan of the Baltimore County Police Department.

“DeAndre Spencer used a gun to commit a carjacking in broad daylight,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur.  “Hopefully criminals who are not deterred from carrying guns by the threat of prison time can be deterred by the reality of years spent in a federal prison far from home—where there is no parole. Ever.”

According to Spencer’s plea agreement, on October 26, 2017, the victim was stopped in his car at the intersection of North Duncan Street and East Fairmount Avenue in Baltimore, when Spencer approached and requested a ride.  The victim refused and Spencer pointed a loaded handgun at the victim and demanded that the victim get out of the car.  Spencer then stole the victim’s wallet and cell phone and drove away in the victim’s car.  The victim walked to a nearby school and called 911.  Police arrived and began an investigation into the carjacking.

Later that day, a detective with the Baltimore County Police Department saw Spencer driving the victim’s car through intersections without stopping at stop signs.  The detective began following the car to initiate a traffic stop.  Shortly thereafter, Spencer crashed the car into a light pole and tried to run away.  The detective apprehended Spencer and recovered a loaded handgun from his person. 

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.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the ATF, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew DellaBetta, who prosecuted the case.

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Baltimore, Maryland – DeAndre Spencer, age 27, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to an armed carjacking. 

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Interim Commissioner Gary Tuggle of the Baltimore Police Department; and Chief Terrence B. Sheridan of the Baltimore County Police Department.

“We are focusing our federal resources to reduce gun violence in Baltimore,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur.  “Armed criminals, especially those who brandish a weapon in the commission of a crime, face the very real risk of serving time in federal prison, where there is no parole – ever.”

“Anyone using firearms to inflict violence on law-abiding citizens must be brought to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada. “ATF’s mission and focus alongside our partners is to identify and stop violent offenders who are committing these crimes.”

According to his plea agreement, on October 26, 2017, the victim was stopped in his car at the intersection of North Duncan Street and East Fairmount Avenue in Baltimore, when Spencer approached and requested a ride.  The victim refused and Spencer pointed a loaded handgun at the victim and demanded that the victim get out of the car.  Spencer then stole the victim’s wallet and cell phone and drove away in the victim’s car.  The victim walked to a nearby school and called 911.  Police arrived and began an investigation into the carjacking.

Later that day, a detective with the Baltimore County Police Department saw Spencer driving the victim’s car.  Spencer was driving through intersections without stopping at stop signs.  The detective began following the car to initiate a traffic stop.  Shortly thereafter, Spencer crashed the car into a light pole and tried to run away.  The detective apprehended Spencer and recovered a loaded handgun from his person. 

Spencer and the government have agreed that if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Spencer will be sentenced to 12 years in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake has scheduled sentencing for March 20, 2019 at 9:15 a.m. 

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.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the ATF, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew DellaBetta, who is prosecuting the case.

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