wo Essex County, New Jersey men appeared in Newark federal court
today in connection with charges arising out of three carjackings that
occurred on the same day in March 2012 in Essex and Hudson counties,
U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Louis Holmes, 24, of Newark, is charged in a five-count complaint
with one count of conspiracy to commit carjacking; three counts of theft
of a motor vehicle by force, violence, and intimidation; and one count
of use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Rosendo
Perez, 24, of Irvington, is charged in the same complaint with one count
of conspiracy to commit carjacking; one count of theft of a motor
vehicle by force, violence, and intimidation; and one count of use of a
firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
Both were already in state custody when they were charged by
complaint on December 20, 2012. They both made their initial appearances
before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court
today.
According to the criminal complaint:
On the afternoon of March 27, 2012, Holmes and Perez approached two
individuals who were sitting in a parked 2009 Acura TL in the area of
South 17th Street in Newark. Holmes pointed a firearm at the victims,
and both Holmes and Perez ordered the victims out of the car. Holmes and
Perez then fled the area in the carjacked vehicle.
That night, Holmes accosted an individual who was approaching a
parked 2010 Nissan Maxima, in which another individual was sitting. The
car was parked in a McDonald’s parking lot on Communipaw Avenue in
Jersey City. Holmes pointed a firearm at the victims, demanded the car
keys, and ordered one victim out of the car. Holmes then fled the area
in the carjacked vehicle.
One hour later, Holmes approached an individual who was standing near
a 2008 Nissan Altima in the area of Mt. Pleasant Avenue in Newark.
Holmes pointed a firearm at the victim and demanded the car keys. Holmes
then fled the area in the carjacked vehicle.
The next day, police observed the 2009 Acura TL, which was carjacked
during the afternoon of the prior day. A motor vehicle pursuit ensued
through the cities of Newark and East Orange until Perez, the driver of
the carjacked vehicle, lost control of the car and crashed. Holmes was a
passenger of the carjacked vehicle. Both Holmes and Perez exited the
carjacked vehicle and attempted to flee the area but were apprehended
shortly after the crash. Just before he was apprehended, Holmes
allegedly threw a handgun loaded with six hollow-point rounds to the
ground.
The charge of conspiracy to commit carjacking (count one) is
punishable by a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison. The
carjacking counts (count two, four, and five) each are punishable by a
maximum potential penalty of 15 years in prison. The charge of use of a
firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence (count three) is
punishable by a maximum potential penalty of life in prison and a
mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison, which must run
consecutively to any other prison term. Each of the five counts also
carries a maximum fine of $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the
direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge David Velazquez in Newark;
the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Police Director
Samuel A. DeMaio and Chief Sheilah A. Coley; and the Essex County
Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Carolyn A.
Murray; the Jersey City Police Department, under the direction of
Acting Police Director Robert Kakoleski and Chief Thomas J. Comey; the
Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting
Prosecutor Gaetano T. Gregory, as well as criminal investigators from
the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark with the investigation leading to
the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa M.
Colone of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely
accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until
proven guilty.
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