Devonte Carter, a 30-year-old Washington, D.C. resident, has been convicted of a carjacking that took place in July last year. The jury found Carter guilty after a carjacking incident involving a food delivery driver occurred at the corner of Cedar and 14th Streets SE, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reported.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the delivery driver was attacked while checking something on his motorized scooter. An assailant pointed an gun at the victim before Carter forcibly removed them from the scooter and took off with the vehicle and its key fob. Superior Court Judge Deborah Israel has set Carter's sentencing date for July 11, and due to prior convictions of violent crimes, Carter faces a stiff minimum of 15 years behind bars.
The prosecution’s evidence revealed that after the carjacking, Carter traveled to a public housing complex in the 2400 block of Elvans Road SE, where he and a few others used the scooter for joyriding. The scooter, equipped with an air tag, was later recovered by Metropolitan Police Department officers who were led to the scene. Carter attempted to flee as the police arrived. A subsequent DNA analysis connected him to the stolen vehicle, as stated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
In a statement obtained by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, officials praised the investigative efforts of the Metropolitan Police Department and the prosecutors involved in the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Caelainn Carney and Michael C. Lee were specifically commended for their roles in securing the conviction. The mandatory minimum sentence for carjacking is seven years, but given Carter's criminal history, the court could impose a significantly heavier penalty at the July sentencing.
