U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago Announces Federal Carjacking Charges Against Five Individuals

U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago Announces Federal Carjacking Charges Against Five Individuals

U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago Announces Federal Carjacking Charges Against Five Individuals

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Illinois
1 February 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHICAGO — The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago today announced federal criminal charges against five individuals in connection with violent carjackings in the city or suburbs.

U.S. v. McKenzie, 19 CR 019

BRIAN MCKENZIE, 23, of Chicago, is charged with two counts of carjacking for allegedly taking two vehicles at gunpoint on Oct. 18, 2018. McKenzie used a handgun to take a Dodge Charger from a driver in the parking lot of a restaurant in Orland Park, and later crashed the vehicle into a worker at a construction site in Oak Forest, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago. McKenzie allegedly fled on foot and used a handgun to carjack a passing Mazda 3 sedan. He then put the Mazda in reverse and drove over the leg of a law enforcement officer who was pursuing him, the complaint states.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez on Tuesday ordered McKenzie held in federal custody. A detention hearing is set for Feb. 4, 2019, at 11:00 a.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge M. David Weisman. The case was investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Orland Park Police Department, and the Oak Forest Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kavitha Babu.

U.S. v. Carter, et al, 19 CR 055

In an unrelated case, three defendants have been indicted on a federal carjacking charge for allegedly violently taking a Land Rover from a driver in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago on July 20, 2018. Charged are TYRAN CARTER, 26, DWAYNE LIBERTY, 21, and TERRONDE GORDON, 20, all of Chicago. The indictment also charges Carter individually with carjacking a Toyota Prius in the city’s Hyde Park neighborhood earlier the same day.

Arraignment for the trio is set for Feb. 5, 2019, at 11:00 a.m., in federal court in Chicago. The case was investigated by the Vehicular Hijacking Task Force, a joint federal and state initiative consisting of officers, agents and prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Chicago Police Department, ATF, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Illinois State Police, and suburban police departments. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Storino.

U.S. v. Dukes, 19 CR 048

In another recent case, KASHIF DUKES, 24, of Chicago, was indicted on a federal carjacking charge for allegedly taking a Mercedes-Benz sedan in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood on Sept. 10, 2017. Dukes displayed a firearm and threatened the driver before taking the car, according to the government’s memorandum in support of detention.

U.S. Magistrate Judge M. David Weisman on Tuesday ordered Dukes detained in federal custody pending trial. The case was investigated by the ATF Chicago Crime Gun Strike Force, in conjunction with the Chicago Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katie Durick and John D. Mitchell.

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The charges were announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Timothy Jones, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the ATF; Jeffrey S. Sallet, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the FBI; and Eddie Johnson, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department.

The public is reminded that charges are not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Carjacking is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.