Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 21 Years in Prison for Series of Armed Carjackings Targeting Elderly Publisher: U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania Dateline: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Date: 9 September 2024 Subjects: American Government , Crime

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Alex Askew, 20, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Timothy J. Savage to 21 years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, restitution of $36,183.61, and an $800 assessment in connection with a series of armed carjackings targeting mainly elderly victims in Philadelphia and Upper Darby in September of 2022.

Askew was charged by superseding indictment in April of 2023, and on February 21, 2024, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit carjacking, three counts of carjacking, three counts of using a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of attempted carjacking.  

The defendant and others committed three carjackings and one attempted carjacking, all with firearms, during the course of the conspiracy that took place between September 6, 2022, and September 12, 2022. The incidents detailed are as follows:

• On September 6, 2022, in the afternoon, Askew and two others committed two carjackings within minutes of one another and blocks away. In the first carjacking, Askew was one of three people to brandish a firearm at three victims aged 60 to 80 years old parking their vehicle on the 800 block of North 26^th Street in Philadelphia. In the course of stealing their Mitsubishi SUV, Askew and others threatened to kill them. The same group used the stolen Mitsubishi to drive to the 2600 block of Brown Street minutes later where they pointed a black firearm at a woman parking her Kia Sportage. They demanded her keys before fleeing in both stolen cars.

• The next day in the evening, on September 7, 2022, Askew and others threatened a 66-year-old woman at gunpoint in the course of stealing her Acura SUV. The victim had just parked in front of her home on Wilde Avenue in Upper Darby late at night when a male with a firearm pointed a gun at her and demanded her keys. The offenders stole the victim’s purse and fled in her vehicle.

• In the late afternoon of September 11, 2022, Askew and others threatened a 71-year-old woman at gunpoint as she parked in the alleyway behind her home on Brunswick Avenue in Upper Darby. Askew and another male demanded the keys but fled the scene without her vehicle when the victim screamed and ran towards her home.

“Alex Askew is 20 years old and was just sentenced to 21 years in prison,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “Anyone who’s out there committing carjackings, or even contemplating it, needs to think long and hard about whether stealing a car for a few hours or days is worth spending decades of your life behind bars. The public shouldn’t have to fear being ambushed by armed criminals every time they get in or out of their car. That’s why we and our law enforcement partners are committed to prosecuting these violent crimes and why they carry such significant sentences.”

“Carjacking is a serious and dangerous crime, and as this case shows, even a youthful offender like Askew can be sentenced to serious federal prison time for carjacking,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Philadelphia Field Office. “The fact that the defendant and accomplices targeted vulnerable elderly community members makes their crime spree even more reprehensible. Preventing and prosecuting carjacking remains a high priority, and as in this case, we will work with our partners in the Philadelphia Carjacking Task Force to track down the perpetrators across jurisdictions, whenever and wherever they act.”

“I want to thank U.S. Attorney Romero for her collaborative efforts to hold violent criminals accountable by bringing them to justice.” said Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer. “In Delaware County, our Project Safe Neighborhoods partnership is a force multiplier for the men and women of law enforcement working courageously every day to keep our communities safe.”

“We will not tolerate violent crime in our community,” said Upper Darby Police Superintendent Timothy Bernhardt. “Alex Askew’s actions were not only dangerous but unacceptable, and we remain committed to hold accountable anyone who threatens the safety of our residents. We extend our gratitude to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, particularly U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero, for their partnership and dedication in prosecuting this individual. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to work tirelessly to protect our town and ensure that those who commit crimes face justice.”

“The sentence handed down today serves as a powerful reminder that the Philadelphia Police Department, alongside our law enforcement partners, will not tolerate violent crime in our city, especially crimes that target our most vulnerable citizens,” said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel. “These brazen carjackings were not only a threat to public safety but also a violation of the sense of security every individual deserves. I commend the dedication of our officers - and the collaboration across our partner agencies - that brought this individual to justice. We remain committed to ensuring the safety of all Philadelphians through decisive and strategic actions.”

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office Criminal Investigation Division, the Upper Darby Township Police Department, and the Philadelphia Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorneys Brian Doherty and Sandra M. Urban.

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Updated September 9, 2024