Grand Jury Indicts Two on Conspiracy, Carjacking and Firearms Charges

Grand Jury Indicts Two on Conspiracy, Carjacking and Firearms Charges

Grand Jury Indicts Two on Conspiracy, Carjacking and Firearms Charges

U.S. Attorney’s Office
Northern District of Texas
3 August 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Charges Stem from Late 2015 Armed Carjacking Spree in North Texas and Houston

DALLAS — A federal grand jury returned a six-count superseding indictment yesterday charging two men, Joshua Puckett, 30, and Tyler Woodard, 22, with various violent offenses stemming from their armed carjacking spree in late 2015, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.

Yesterday’s indictment supersedes the February 2016 indictment by adding a conspiracy count as well as additional carjacking and firearms offenses. The indictment charges Puckett and Woodard each with one count of conspiracy to commit carjacking. Puckett is also charged with two counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Puckett is also charged with three, and Woodard with two counts of carjacking.

The indictment alleges that from approximately November 2, 2015, to December 9, 2015, Puckett and Woodard conspired together, and with others, to commit seven carjackings. They selected the motor vehicles to be carjacked, the time and location of each carjacking and the role each would play in the carjacking. They also chose the weapons to be used in the carjacking as well as what force and violence they would use.

On November 2, 2015, Puckett and Woodard, with the intent to cause death and serious bodily harm, took a 2003 Lexus IS300 from an individual, D.T., by force, violence and intimidation by approaching D.T. and Puckett pointing a gun at D.T.

On November 10, 2015, after S.W. took Puckett to an ATM, Puckett, with intent to cause death and serious bodily harm, took a 2013 BMW M3 from S.W., by force, violence and intimidation by pistol-whipping S.W. and choking him.

On December 5, 2015, Puckett and others, with the intent to cause death and serious bodily harm, took a 2011 BMW M3 from J.C.R., by force, violence and intimidation by pointing a pistol at J.C.R. and shooting him.

On December 7, 2015, Puckett, with the intent to cause death and serious bodily harm, attempted to take a 2014 Audi A4 from H.C., by force, violence and intimidation, by pointing a pistol at H.C. while he was seated in his vehicle and demanding the keys from him.

After H.C. told Puckett he didn’t have the keys, Puckett, on December 7, 2015, with the intent to cause death and serious bodily harm, took a 2013 Toyota Rav 4, from S.G., by force, violence and intimidation, by pointing a pistol at S.G. and striking her with it.

On December 7, 2015, Puckett, with the intent to cause death and serious bodily harm, attempted to take a 2011 BMW 335i from Z.M., by force, violence and intimidation, by pointing a pistol at Z.M. and shooting him.

On December 7, 2015, Puckett, after attempting to carjack Z.M., returned to the vehicle he was driving and followed Z.M. until Z.M. sped away to escape harm.

On December 9, 2015, officers with the Dallas Police Department saw Puckett driving the Toyota Rav 4 he had carjacked from S.G. in a motel parking lot. In an attempt to avoid apprehension, Puckett evaded the police first in the vehicle and then on foot. He eventually ran into the Toyota of Dallas dealership where, with intent to cause death and serious bodily harm, Puckett took a 2010 Toyota Highlander from M.A., by force, violence and intimidation, by pointing a pistol at M.A. as he attempted to stop Puckett from taking the vehicle. Puckett, driving the Toyota Highlander he had carjacked, evaded police for a while, and then evaded them on foot, before dropping the pistol just before police apprehended him.

An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. A trial date of February 13, 2017, before U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade is currently set for the defendants. If convicted, the conspiracy count carries a maximum statutory penalty of five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Each of the carjacking counts carries a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Puckett faces a statutory penalty of not less than 32 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted on the firearm offenses.

The FBI and the Dallas, Houston, Plano and Frisco Police Departments are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachael Jones is in charge of the prosecution.

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Date	Document Name & Details	Documents
2 August 2016 filing date	United States of America v. Joshua Puckett (1) and Tyler Woodard (2) Supersedes Indictment United States District Court, Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division	PDF - 791KB - 15 pages