Savannah Man Indicted For Historic District Carjacking

U.S. Attorney’s Office
Southern District of Georgia
8 March 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAVANNAH, GA: Earlier today, a federal grand jury in Savannah charged Jaquan Shakur Singleton, 23, with perpetrating an armed carjacking near Forsyth Park on February 12, 2018. The indictment alleges that Singleton brandished a nine-millimeter semiautomatic pistol and used force, violence, and intimidation to steal a Honda sedan before transporting the car into South Carolina. Shortly after the robbery, Singleton was arrested at the scene of a single-vehicle accident involving the stolen sedan. A South Carolina Highway Patrol (“SCHP”) trooper recovered a nine-millimeter semiautomatic pistol from the vehicle.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Southeast Georgia Violent Crimes Task Force and the Savannah Police Department investigated the carjacking. Along with SCHP, Jasper County Fire-Rescue responded to the accident.

If convicted of carjacking, Singleton could be sentenced to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. In addition, the defendant faces a consecutive sentence of seven years’ imprisonment for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Transporting a stolen vehicle across state lines is punishable by 10 years in prison. All federal sentences must be served without the possibility of parole.

United States Attorney Bobby L. Christine stated, “Working alongside our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, this Office has adopted a zero-tolerance approach to gun violence. We will respond – promptly and sharply – to those who threaten the safety and serenity of our community.”

U.S. Attorney Christine emphasized that an indictment is only an accusation and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the Government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Assistant United States Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. For any questions, please contact the United States Attorney’s Office at (912) 652-4422.