PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Since February, federal authorities have arrested eight people accused in carjackings in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, as part of the newly formed Philadelphia Carjacking Task Force. U.S. Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams made the announcement Wednesday with federal, state and local law enforcement officials.
All of the incidents occurred over the winter months, and in each case, alleges, the suspect used a gun. All the defendants are facing significant prison time if convicted.
In one case, authorities say, Dayon Hackett, 19, carjacked two victims on the same day in December. One was in Bridesburg. The other was in South Philly, while the victim was sitting in his parked car waiting for a parking space to open. The victim, Hackett and a second offender allegedly got into a gun fight, leaving the victim with severed arteries, shattered bones and bullets lodged near internal organs.
Two other suspects, Tarik Chambers, 19, and Nikeem Leach-Hilton, 21, are accused of using a ghost gun in December to carjack a driver in the parking lot of a shopping center in Springfield, Delaware County — eventually leading police on a car chase through the county, before crashing into another car, giving that driver life-threatening injuries.
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Christopher Robinson, 20, of Philadelphia is accused in three West Philadelphia carjackings in December and January.
A 23-year-old from Camden, Sean Allen, is accused of taking cars in January from at least two people who posted their vehicles for sale online.
In February, Cameron Styles, 20, of Philadelphia is accused of involvement in two carjackings in Northeast Philadelphia. One victim was waiting for a train, and the other was parked at a gas station.
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Also in February, Alex Fernandez-Pena and Juan Jose Rodriguez were charged in the carjacking of a Lyft driver in the Parkside section of the city. Authorities say the pair pulled a gun on the driver, but the driver, who was licensed to carry, fired back at them while they tried to get away, critically injuring one of them.
The feds do not take every carjacking case, but often take the ones for which they say they have strong evidence, and are the most egregious cases. All of the suspects face the possibility of spending the rest of their lives in federal prison, with a minimum sentence of at least 7 years.
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Editor’s update, Dec. 29, 2023
• In August 2023, Cameron Styles was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to carjacking and federal firearms offenses. He must also enter into a mental health and drug treatment program, as well as try to obtain his GED and go through job training.
• In March 2023, Juan Jose Rodriguez was sentenced to seven years, plus one day, in prison for carjacking and a federal firearms offense, and must take ESL courses.
• In April 2023, Dayon Hackett pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking and one count of attempted carjacking. Cameron Styles also pleaded guilty in February of 2022, to carjacking and firearms charges. He was sentenced to 11 years in Federal prison.
• In December 2023, Nikeem Leach-Hilton pleaded guilty to five counts in the indictment, which includes conspiracy to commit carjacking and several counts of carjacking and aiding and abetting. Tarik Chambers pleaded guilty to the same offenses in August. Both were sentenced to about 18 years in prison.
Editor's update, Sept. 4, 2024
• In August 2024, Christopher Robinson pleaded guilty to three counts of carjacking, aiding and abetting, and one count of using or brandishing a firearm. He was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison.
• In September 2023, Sean Allen pleaded guilty to carjacking charges and was sentenced to three years in prison. He was also ordered to write a letter of apology to all the victims.
Editor’s update, Oct. 10, 2024
Alex Fernandez-Pena pleaded guilty in March to carjacking and use of a firearm charges. The rest of his record is sealed.