A Detroit man has been handed a 102-month sentence in federal prison following his guilty verdict on charges of carjacking and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. The announcement of the sentencing was made by United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr., joined by Jennifer Runyan, the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Detroit Field Office, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Per court documents, Brandon Sims, 35, from Detroit, committed the crime on October 18, 2023, when he carjacked a man who was helping a young woman move out of Sims's residence. Sims forcibly entered the man's SUV, where he then produced a gun. The victim managed to push the weapon away but caused it to discharge in the struggle. After the victim fled, Sims took off with the SUV and the young woman. It didn't take long before the FBI, alongside the Detroit Police Department's Commercial Auto Theft Section, were to quickly locate Sims and the young woman in Pontiac, Michigan, several hours later, taking Sims into custody.
“Carjackers pounce on ordinary folks—by putting a gun their face—when they are a sitting duck in their car. We will prosecute the criminals who commit these terrible and violent crimes,” U.S. Attorney Gorgon is quoted as saying in the official announcement. Reflecting on the severity of the crime and the justice served, Jennifer Runyan from the FBI added, “The sentencing of Brandon Sims, a convicted felon, reflects the serious consequences facing those who commit reckless crimes of violence and place innocent lives at risk.”
The successful resolution to this case was the result of a cooperative effort by the FBI, the Detroit Police Department, and Assistant United States Attorneys Jeanine Brunson and Craig Wininger, who handled the prosecution. Sims's actions not only put an individual's life in direct danger but also, by his armed aggression, he cast a shadow of fear over the community at large. These efforts by the law enforcement community showcase their dedication to quickly respond and hold such individuals accountable under federal law. Sims now faces substantial prison time to reflect the seriousness of his actions.
