Two young Philly men have been slapped with serious prison time for a string of armed hold-ups, turning local shops into scenes of fear and intimidation. Angel Fayez, 19, and Kevin Antun, known too as Acquah Evans, 20, will each cool their heels for 162 months courtesy of Judge Juan R. Sanchez, United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced.
The duo's crime wave, spanning a nearly two-week stretch from late November to early December 2022, saw small businesses from Kensington to the Lower Northeast gripped by the terror of gunpoint robberies. An unfortunate woman at Liberty gas station even had her car jacked by the ruthless pair. By the time their spree had ended, they left behind a trail of terror and around $3,613 less in the pockets of local entrepreneurs.
According to the Department of Justice, the heavy-handed response to Fayez and Antun’s crime saga underscores the federal hammer coming down hard. "Interfering with interstate commerce by robbing a business at gunpoint is a federal crime," Romero stated. "The U.S. Attorney’s office, along with ATF and the Philadelphia Police Department, will continue to fight violent crime to ensure the safety and sanctity of our streets prevail."
The ringleaders of chaos weren't just running game on shops; they shook the very fabric of the community's peace of mind. ATF Special Agent in Charge Eric DeGree put it bluntly, "The sentence sends a clear message that even young offenders with no criminal history will be held to account if they terrorize their community." The dedicated efforts of the Philadelphia Carjacking Task Force were seminal, proving again their weight in gold to the citizenry of Philadelphia.
Philadelphia's top cop, Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel, voiced his satisfaction at the sentencing, citing the powerful collaboration between law enforcement agencies. "I am grateful to see these dangerous individuals receive significant prison sentences," Bethel commented, revealing a hard line against the gun violence plaguing the city's streets. Their joint legwork stands as testament to an unyielding pursuit of safety and order.
This case is a feather in the cap for Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Justice Department's flagship initiative to bring down violent crime and encourage safer communities. Fayez and Antun’s convictions showcase the unity and resolve of agencies, from ATF to local police, in snuffing out the menace of gun violence and restoring tranquility to community corridors.
