Carjacker Sent to Prison for 10 Years Publisher: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia Dateline: Washington, D.C. Date: 3 April 2024 Subjects: American Government , Crime

Defendant Shot With His Own Gun During His Crime Spree

            WASHINGTON – Basil Thomas, 21, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 10 years in prison for a carjacking and robbery that he committed in Northeast Washington D.C. last year, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department.

            On September 6, 2023, Thomas pleaded guilty in Superior Court to carjacking, robbery, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm. On March 25, 2024, Superior Court Judge Erik Christian sentenced the defendant to 84 months in prison for carjacking, consecutive to 36 months in prison for robbery; with concurrent sentences of 60 months in prison for possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and 36 months in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm, pursuant to the parties’ plea agreement

            According to the government’s evidence, with which the defendant agreed at his plea hearing, on March 3, 2023, at approximately 5:35 p.m., the defendant approached his first victim, put a gun to his neck, and demanded his car keys.  The victim reluctantly handed Thomas the keys to his Lexus SUV. Thomas drove that Lexus a short distance away before parking it so he could attempt a second armed carjacking. At approximately, 5:45 p.m., Thomas approached a Toyota SUV that was parked and running in a parking lot near where Thomas parked the Lexus.  The second victim was sitting in the passenger seat of his Toyota when Thomas pointed a gun at him through the driver’s side window.  Thomas then got in the Toyota, put the gun against the second victim’s head and demanded he get out. When the victim refused, a struggle ensued over the gun and Thomas was shot in the leg.

            Thomas fled after being shot, but police were able to identify him and link him to both offenses after he went to a nearby hospital for treatment for his wound. Although the first victim could not identify his assailant, the second victim was able to positively identify him. Police also located the first victim’s Lexus near the second carjacking location. And after the second victim reported the attempted carjacking, police recovered Thomas’s gun and surveillance footage that showed his attempt to carjack the second victim.

            This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.  It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Kubo and Alec Levy.

Updated April 3, 2024

Press Release Number: 24-290